By G.F. McHale-Scully
Downtown Browntown
Ralph Cowen will never be the character that his famous ancestor John "Rip" Ford was during his time, but this descendant of one of Brownsville's seminal figures has carved out his own niche on the border.
By nature a used-car salesman with a gift for gab, he wouldn't sell a clunker to an innocent and ignorant customer a la the KKK Kardenas Klan. With his gritos still echoing along the Rio Grande, sometimes confused with La Llorona's laments, Ralph has a spirit nurtured at the river's muddy banks. And a good heart that reflects his good roots.
His soul owes its genesis as much to Mexico as to the United States. He speaks better Spanish than he does English. He thinks in Spanish. He farts in Spanish. He makes love in Spanish. In homage to his allegiance, he is displaying his many photos of the Mexican Revolution at the Historic Brownsville Museum this Thursday evening. Admission is free.
"I would like to invite all my friends to a reception in commemoration of the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution," said Cowen who refuses to either confirm or deny the rumor that he is Tony Gray's father.
"The Mexican Consul and the Historic Brownsville Museum will be displaying my collection of historic photos of the Mexican Revolution from 1910-1921. There will be good Mexican food, cold beer, excellent wines and aguas frescas for those who attend. I hope to see you there."
In the same vein that Dr. Anthony Zavaleta brags about his ancient forefather Juan Cortina from whom he inherited a recalcitrant personality but not the revolutionary fervor, Cowen's admiration for Ford is understandable.
Ford arrived in Texas from Tennessee a practicing physician. A young man entering an even younger nation, he rubbed shoulders with Sam Houston and all the principals who formed the Lone Star Republic. Throughout his varied career Ford proved to be a man of many talents. He was a lawyer, a journalist, a Texas Ranger, a Confederate officer, a general in a Mexican army endeavoring to create a new country, mayor of both Austin and Brownsville, and a senator in the Texas legislature among many other occupations; he was a true Renaissance Man.
When he wasn't shooting Indians, outlaws, Yankees, or Mexicans, he devoted his free time to his artistry. He regretted in later life that he didn't accumulate more property and money, but he could never resist the urge to write. He owned and managed newspapers, contributed to journals and penned his memoirs; RIP FORD's TEXAS is a 500-page tour de force. This is a fascinating snippet from his work regarding Mexico:
"Revolutions were fomented, battles fought, governments established and overthrown. In the end there were men in Mexico who were revolutionists by profession and practice. Their names, figured on one side or the other, in every popular outbreak.
"The patriotism of the masses--and no people love their country more devotedly than the Mexicans--was skillfully manipulated to produce internal dissensions and bloodshed. They were misled by the cry of 'reform' and seduced into thrusting daggers into the bosom of their beloved Mexico, in unconscious ignorance of the crimes they were perpetrating."
As the generations pass, Ford handing the baton to Cowen seems a logical progression.
11 comments:
During my high school days it seems that there was a Cowan in every grade level. There was Paul, Phillip, Tommy and then there was my English teacher and their mother, Virginia Cowen. Growing up on East Levee Street all the neighborhood knew that valúes of decency and goodness blessed this family. Ralph is a good man and I look forward to visiting his picture gallery.
Ralph COWEN is a Joke ! He spends thousands of ports$ go eat more rice
Eddie tells us that you're theworst thing that ever happened to the port.and always embarrassing the port,according to him and John Reed.
Was Ralph in the Mexican Revolution,did he take the photos?
(Was Ralph in the Mexican Revolution,did he take the photos?)
No. But he's "related" to white people and he has a "white" last name. He speaks mexican. And his specialty is selling used cars.
Rudolpho.
I have never met Ralph Cowen, don't know him or anything about him, but he was kind enough to allow the people of Brownsville to view his collection of historic photographs. Why do folks feel the need to attack a fellow over a simple act of community spirit. The lack of class, manners and common courtesy among many of the peole of Brownsville, makes me ashamed to say I live here. It takes a certified Jerk to make the above comments.
Ralph Cowen is a gentleman and a scholar. He has added a greater vision for the Port of Brownsville. He is a decent family man that we should all applaud. Than you Ralph for all you have done for Brownsville over the years.
El Ralph es cabrony duerme tarde. Ask him abut his days at Cameron Works,puro desmadre.
El Janitor Orejon
Ever buy a used car from him he F--ked me.
He is taking the port to the cleaners ch. The record(FLYING FIRST CLASS) to CHINA. $ 5978.00 What a good man!
Ralph is the biggest bullshitter about every thing come on.
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