Joe Mancha †
Inducted 2018
Hometown: McAllen
High School: McAllen High School
College: The University of Houston
Best Known for: Football
Mancha was named to the Valley All-Millennium Team selected in 2000 by Valley Freedom Newspapers.
He was a three-time All-District lineman for the McAllen Bulldogs who was named All-State twice, first team as a junior. In 1952, With Mancha leading the way, McAllen upset No. 3-ranked San Antonio Edison, 26-6, before a record crowd of 14,000 at Bulldog Memorial Stadium. Although McHi lost in the state semifinals, that season was a memorable one as the Bulldogs set a school record with 11 consecutive wins and built a No. 5 state ranking. Mancha's crunching blocks allowed the 1952 team to score 450 points, a mark that stood for four decades.
Previously, he had starred in track and field, where he qualified for the state track meet in Austin in the spring of 1952.
