Wilfrido “Willie” Garcia
Inducted 2010
Hometown: Rio Grande City
High School: Rio Grande City High School
College: Pan American College
Best Known for: Coaching – Track and Field
It's hard to find a more inspirational story than that of Garcia, who lost his right arm at age 14, but battled through that to become a member of the All-District football team in 1953 as a senior center from Rio Grande City High. He went on to play baseball at Pan American College in the mid-1950s.
Later, he started teaching and coaching at his alma mater, went to Brownsville Hanna as an assistant, and eventually won state titles as head track coach at Brownsville St. Joseph in 1971 and 1972.
Having earned a master's degree in education administration, Garcia served as a principal on both high school and elementary levels in La Joya and was accorded Congressional Recognition by Rep. Solomon Ortiz in 2000 for a lifetime of service.