Dolores A. “Lolita” Salazar†
Inducted 2001
Hometown: San Benito
College: North Texas State University
Best Known for: Coaching – Track
Salazar had a belief that success and rewards are not established by the number of titles and trophies one can collect, but instead by the comradeship and good sportsmanship developed and nurtured within a team effort.
But Salazar also helped Valley athletes win their share of accolades in a 35-year teaching and coaching career.
The San Benito native earned two college degrees at Texas Woman’s University and set about establishing women's sports in an era when there were few. Beginning at Brownsville High in 1961, she boosted girls' volleyball and basketball in the area, coaching Hanna to four district titles in track and field.
She worked with the Valley's first triple-jump champ (1972) and later developed a Texas title winner in the high jump (1983). She retired from coaching in 1983 but continued to teach until 1996.