Robert Vela†
Inducted 2008
Hometown: Edinburg
High School: Edinburg High School
College: Pan American College
Best Known for: Coach-Football
This legendary Vela won 137 lifetime football games at Edcouch-Elsa and Edinburg and was known an expert motivator who had the loyalty and love of his kids and staff.
Vela played football for the legendary coach Fred Akers at Edinburg High, where he graduated and later graduated from Pan American College.
As a coach, he took teams to the playoffs 14 times in 19 seasons, including four district titles with Edcouch-Elsa, with the program's first crown in 23 years in 1989. That 1989 team went three-deep in the playoffs before tying Gregory-Portland and losing on penetrations.
The Yellowjackets won league titles from 1991 to 1993. Vela popularized the slogan “Viva La Maquina,” and helped establish Edcouch-Elsa’s Black Hole as the toughest place to play in the Valley.
At his alma mater of Edinburg High School, Vela led the Bobcats to a 31-9 record from 1998 to 2000, going four rounds deep in 1999. He won 70 games for Edinburg after having notched 67 in nine seasons at E-E. He coached EHS until his death in the summer of 2007.