With “Bear Day” coming up at Bowie High School where it will honor some of its greatest champions on Oct.13, it’s a good time to recall the memory of one of its greatest coaches, the late Nemo Herrera.
It’s also timely because another of Nemo’s 1949 players, Ruben Rodriguez, passed away on Aug. 30 at the age of 88 in California. There is only one known survivor of the team, Alfonso Lopez.
Nemo Herrera is one of the few public high school coaches in Texas to win championships in two of the three major sports (baseball, basketball and football). He won two state titles in basketball at Lanier High School in San Antonio and then came to Bowie High School and won a state championship in baseball.
HERES’ HOW Herrera was described years ago in the El Paso Herald-Post:
“He was as tough as a pug-nosed bulldog, as smart as a chess master – and as good a coach as ever blew a whistle in El Paso. Herrera was successful in every major sport, be it basketball, baseball or football, both as an athlete and a coach. He wasn’t big but he was as ferocious a competitor as they come. He lettered in all three major sports in high school. Baseball was his forte and he was so good, he played at Southwestern University and several years in the minor leagues …”
RUBEN PORRAS, a tall, curveball artist, was Bowie High’s No. 1 starting pitcher in 1949. Trini Guillen, a changeup artist who could outsmart the best of batters, and crafty Javier Holguin were other mainstays, and there were a couple of handy relievers in Alfonso Lopez and Ruben Rodriguez.
“Other team members were Tony Lara at first base, Andy Morales at second base, Rocky Galarza at third base, Gus Sambrano at shortstop, Jose Corona in left field, Fernie Gomez in centerfield, Ernesto Guzman in right field, Ramon Camarillo at catcher and Carlos Macias as a vital utility player.
The Bears won the championship game, upsetting Stephen F. Austin High School, a much bigger and richer school, 3-2.
TRIVIA QUESTION: One other person who coached in El Paso won public high school state championships in two of the major sports. Who was he? Answer at end of column.
SANDY AARONSON writes: El Paso High School Alumni Association will host a golf tournament to raise money for the construction of the new museum. The 8 a.m. shotgun start will take place on Oct 6 at Painted Dunes Golf Course with registration at 7 a.m. Entry fee is $85 per person or $340 per team. Contact Anna Mares at 449-5720.
TRIVIA ANSWER Jewell Wallace, who coached El Paso High to the state championship in basketball in 1941 and then coached Central High School in San Angelo to the state title in football in 1943.
Veteran sports journalist, historian and author Ray Sanchez welcomes suggestions for his column. Contact him at (915) 584-0626, by email at rayf358@yahoo.com or online at raysanchezbooks.com.