By Juan MontoyaCDC, ATLANTA, GA. – Epidemiologists have detected a new strain of Historic Legacy Desperation Disorder (HLDD). The new disorder is said to strike typically older victims with symptoms that often drive them to want to establish lasting legacies after a life of inconsiderate enrichment upon others.
Scientists say the disease manifests itself typically in older males of whatever ethnic or ethical background, and that the disease has made marked inroads into Hispanics, especially in the border areas between South Texas and Northern Mexico.
“The disease typically manifests itself in these individuals attempting to contribute some sort of monument or lasting testimony – like a book, a scholarship, or even a monument or statue – to make up for their perceived past misdeeds or those of their ancestors,” the CDC warning states. “Often, these individuals have profited enormously from these past acts and feel they have to atone in some way for them.”
HLDD has been evident in many historic figures, such as the descendants of Robber Barons like John D. Rockerfeller, Andrew Carnegie, Charles Stillman, Andrew Mellon, to name a few. In each of these cases, they or their descendants have sought to establish foundations to uplift the people of the lower classes, typically those classes from whose suffering they have profited.
Stillman "released" the land upon which Putegant Elementary and Washington Park now stand to the citizens of Brownsville. The land didn't belong to him, but he generously released his legal claim to it when it was apparent he couldn't retain his questionable possession of it.
A home in the area where he lived carries his name.
Historians have diagnosed the Stillman family largess with the onslaught of HLDD.
Such was the case with Frank Yturria whose ancestors joined ranks with Richard King, of King Ranch fame, to dispossess numerous South Texas families of their birthright and land during the 1800s. Yturria had a book ghostwritten that told of the exploits of his grandfather as he built an empire on questionable land titles and deceptive maneuvers at the sides of King ans Stillman.
Wife Mary has long championed civic projects, such as the restoration of the Washington Park Fountain.
Yturria, now ensconced in his ranch just north of the Valley, was indefatigable in writing the book lauding the accomplishments of his ancestor. However, other historians have concluded that rather than being a generous astute businessman, the first Yturria was in collusion with the Robber Barons of South Texas when they grabbed large sections of land from their rightful owners.
The Yturria case is a scientific anomaly because the current Yturria are not blood descendants of the old Yturria, but rather are part of the family tree that was an adopted branch.
Just recently, one HLDD has manifested itself in other South Texas icons of commerce and flim-flam.
More recent cases include that of the Cardenas family, who has buildings named after them at TSC-UTB.
One such case is that of local businessman and insurance mogul Johnny Cavazos, who was honored for his role in providing scholarships for needy students at the The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. His recognition was for his contribution to the school was for being a generous benefactor for his "life-changing contribution of two scholarship endowments."
Cavazos, who has over the years perfected the art of manipulating boards of trustees of the Brownsville Independent School District and buying his way to convince them to accept his bids (often involving millions of dollars in commissions), is credited with giving more than 90 students the opportunity to pursue their dreams and become teachers for the next generation. In this small way, he has sought to redress the taking of so much loot plundered from the local yokels.
The school honored him with a permanent plaque in the rotunda lobby of the Education and Business Complex. UTB-TSC President Juliet V. Garcia thanked Cavazos and his mate for their contribution at the ceremony.
"When generous people like Mr. and Mrs. Cavazos come to the table and say, ‘somebody helped me along the line and I’d like to help someone else,’ we want to honor them," Garcia said. She never mentioned that a community action group had placed a formal complaint before the Texas Attorney General's office over the awarding of a $38 million insurance contract over another company that complained that a paid consultant had steered the award toward Cavazos using a deceptive analysis.
The company said the insurance services provided to the teachers and personnel at BISD would result in less benefits for the same money. A majority of the BISD board – allegedly aligned with Cavazos – approved the contract. If the contract stands, Cavazos stands to make close to $4 million in commissions. So what's a few $100,000s here and there for a few scholarships in kinesiology?
With the amount of political squirming he has done and his talent for worming his way into fat contracts, it'll only be a few weeks of commissions before he recovers the scholarship dough.
In a large room next to his insurance company, Cavazos keeps large room full of trophies he personally bagged on some of his numerous trips to Africa. There are dark rumors that in a separate trophy room, Cavazos also keeps trophies of past superintendents and board members who didn't go along with his plans.
"This is an abnormal case," said a CCD researcher. "This case shows symptoms of HLDD making themselves evident while the subject remains active in pre-HLDD behavior. This one is one for the books."
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