Recently I wrote that one of the nicest things about being a writer, especially of books, is that you get to hear from people out of the past. I had two more such experiences in the space of a couple of days last week.
The first contact was from Ramon Orona, who was the post man on one of the greatest high school basketball teams ever to come out of El Paso. That was the 1947 “Flying Tigers” from El PasoHigh School that won the state championship. They were dubbed the “Flying Tigers” by Bob Ingram, who was sports editor of the El Paso Herald-Post at the time, because it was the first high school team to fly to the state tournament in Austin and at the same time honored the American squadron that became famous during World War II and was also named “The Flying Tigers.”.
PERHAPS ORONA, now 84 years old and living in East Texas, had just read my book, “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History,” or maybe had been reading about happenings at his alma mater, El Paso High School. Whatever, he called me on the phone and said he wanted me to write something that had been bothering him for decades and wanted to get it off his chest.
“Bobby Parra and Robert Mena on our 1947 team never got the credit they deserved,” he said.
Orona and Jose “Pepe” Palafox made the all-tournament team but Orona says, “Bobby and Robert were key players on the team. Whenever I got a rebound I knew exactly where they were going to be and they were always there for me to get the ball to them. They set the tone for our team. I returned the following year but they had graduated and I really missed them. I had been wanting to tell you this for many years and I’m glad I’m finally doing it today.”
I could almost hear a sigh of relief.
OTHER MEMBERS of the 1947 Flying Tigers, coached by C. D. Jarvis, were Pete Gonzales, George Mengel, Stanley Blaugrund, Morgan Broaddus, Ray Esquivel, Eddy Jabolie, Robert Avina and Richard “Chief” Montoya. They finished the season with a 22-1 record.
I had just returned from service in the Army and lived through that memorable season. Its catchy nickname seemed to make the team a little extra special.
I’m happy to give voice to one of its greatest members.
SOON AFTER Orona’s call I got an email from the daughter of the editor of the El Paso Herald-Post during Orona’s time, Ed Pooley.
Ann Pooley Boylan, EPHS class of 1951, wrote:
“I’ve read two lengthy columns about the EPHS (centennial) celebration and have yet to find out how to donate/buy, etc. something for the event! Maybe it has shown up somewhere else, as I’ve been out of town a good bit lately. I would like to support my (also) Alma Mater in some way if you’d let me know, or put it in another column before it’s too late. Congratulations on your award. I hope to see the book soon.”
OOPS. SORRY for the omission, Ann. I’ve been told by the folks handling the centennial celebration to direct people to their website, http://www.tigerptsa.org/. It has all the details for this project on it.
I can’t express what a thrill it was hearing from Ann. After all, her father took a big chance on approving my hiring as the Herald-Post’s first full time Hispanic writer in 1949.
I still regard him as one of the greatest editors in the history of El Paso newspapers. He was tough as nails, never backed off from anyone and always stood up for the little guy.
Keep those calls and emails coming, folks.