On 14th Street in Brownsville's strip of blue-collar beer joints, Guillermo “Willie” Garza Jr., and his Border Lounge were one of the best-known and popular bars around.
Willie was a veteran of the United States army and the Border Lounge became a gathering point for veterans from the area.People like Rey Solis - a retired cop and investigator and Juan Torres who was a postman after the service and and many others now deceased - were regulars there.
A respectable guitar player, he specialized in traditional Mexican conjunto and bolero music. And the bar's jukebox, which he loaded with his favorite CDs, had a repertoire that included Brownsville's own Chelo Silva, Javier Solis, Pedro Infante and many other famous and little-known artists of the era.
Willie also was an avid history buff, with a deep knowledge of border heroes like Aniceto Pizana, Juan Cortina, Las Aguilas Negras, El Plan de San Diego, and Pancho Villa.
He used to recall his father and uncles tell the tales of local heroes who stood up to their enemies and the rinches and sang their corridos.
But there was also a touch of nostalgia in the music of Chicano artists that he heard as a youth like Little Joe, Carlos Guzman, Joe Bravo, Sonny Ozuna, Agustin Ramirez, Snowball y Los Fabulosos Cuatro and many others.
Of course, the standard border fare like Los Alegres de Teran, Los Cadetes, Los Invasores, Ramon Ayala, Cornelio Reyna and Los Bravos del Norte were also there.
And his pool tournaments were well-attended with some of the city's best pool players players vying for a shot at the prizes - at $10 per entrant and more than 20 participating - a $200 pot. If you didn't play, you could dance to Willy's Wonderful Jukebox. Everybody did.
Of course, the standard border fare like Los Alegres de Teran, Los Cadetes, Los Invasores, Ramon Ayala, Cornelio Reyna and Los Bravos del Norte were also there.
And his pool tournaments were well-attended with some of the city's best pool players players vying for a shot at the prizes - at $10 per entrant and more than 20 participating - a $200 pot. If you didn't play, you could dance to Willy's Wonderful Jukebox. Everybody did.
He was a good friend. Peace be with him and with us.
Willie was 80 when he died last Thursday December 20, 2018 in Harlingen, Texas at Solara Hospital. He was born November 20, 1938 in Brownsville, Texas to Guillermo and Dionicia Garza.
Left behind to cherish his memory is his daughter; Rosemary Garza, 7 siblings; Rey Garza, Hermelinda Bowles, Margarita Morelos, Maria Lourdes De Los Santos, Mario Garza, Eleuterio Garza, Teresita Martinez and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mr. Garza was preceded in death by his wife; Sara Bravo Garza, Parents; Guillermo and Dionicia Hernandez Garza, 3 siblings; Juan Jose Garza, Guadalupe Garza, and Esperanza Ramirez.
Visitation will begin on December 27, 2018 from 3- 9pm with a prayer service at 7p.m. at Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home in Los Fresnos, Texas.
Willie was 80 when he died last Thursday December 20, 2018 in Harlingen, Texas at Solara Hospital. He was born November 20, 1938 in Brownsville, Texas to Guillermo and Dionicia Garza.
Left behind to cherish his memory is his daughter; Rosemary Garza, 7 siblings; Rey Garza, Hermelinda Bowles, Margarita Morelos, Maria Lourdes De Los Santos, Mario Garza, Eleuterio Garza, Teresita Martinez and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mr. Garza was preceded in death by his wife; Sara Bravo Garza, Parents; Guillermo and Dionicia Hernandez Garza, 3 siblings; Juan Jose Garza, Guadalupe Garza, and Esperanza Ramirez.
Visitation will begin on December 27, 2018 from 3- 9pm with a prayer service at 7p.m. at Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home in Los Fresnos, Texas.
Visitation will resume on Friday December 28, 2018 as of 8 am with a 10 am Chapel Service. Burial will follow at the Buena Vista Burial Park in Brownsville, Texas. Pallbearers will be Mike Ramirez, Rene Ramirez, Raymundo Ramirez, Christopher Escobedo, J.D. Gonzalez, and Pete De Los Santos.
Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements. They are at 1005 S. Arroyo Blvd. Los Fresnos, Texas, 956-254-2099.
Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements. They are at 1005 S. Arroyo Blvd. Los Fresnos, Texas, 956-254-2099.
5 comments:
i'm sure willie thanks you for remembering him fondly... we are here for the memories
Well there's nothing worse than a passing friend
Who will die on you till the bitter end
There's nothing worse than a burning heart
Or a past that tears the world apart
Nothing worse than a passing friend
Or a pioneer of a dying trend
Nothing worse than a silent ghost
Or to lose your head at the starting post
No no not again
Willie my solid friend.
ke vida. some of us with our 6 figure salaries and suberbia lifestyles of soccer practices, lodge meetings, and gym workouts can only dream of owning a bar, hanging with friends and throwing down cold ones sorrounded by women, friends, and tunes. as humble as your friend might of been it seems he was very blessed. sorry for your loss. one day we will all meet again.
Very nice tribute to an interesting and valuable contributor to Valley culture. However, Aniceto Pizaña was not a hero; he was a coward and feckless in his campaign. El Plan de San Diego promoted genocide and colonial conflict--just the aspiring colony masters were south of the Rio. And Villa? Lol.
Cowards are the founding (so call) fathers of tejas and they live among us today no tienen verwenza. Heroes to only the gringos and wanna be white cocos...
A posse of Texas Rangers investigating a raid near Brownsville rode to Los Tulitos. A gunfight ensued. Several rangers were wounded, and Pizaña's wife, brother, and son were captured. The son was shot in the leg. Pizaña escaped intending revenge and decided to support the PSD. He was mostly responsible for the guerrilla activities of the revolutionaries, generally swift nocturnal attacks. He commanded a raid on the Dodds pumping station in Hidalgo County. Except for one or two attacks, however, he did not directly participate, but commanded the raiders from the Mexican side of the river. He used regular Mexican troops in the raids, weeded out ineffective men, and used strict discipline to produce troops of combat quality. By 1916 Mexican provisional president Venustiano Carranza was being pressured by the United States government to stop Pizaña's raids. Pizaña was arrested in Monterrey in February 1916. He later lived in El Encino, Tamaulipas, Mexico, until his death, on March 1, 1957.
We've heard this story before where the gringos try to justify their murders and hangings of innocent Mexicans just to steal their lands - and they cry and swear up and down they have papers...
Post a Comment