Hometown: Harlingen, Texas
High School: Harlingen High (’73)
College: Livingston University (now West Alabama)
Best known for: Football
Harlingen Cardinal football fans still remember Gus Torres. He was All-Valley Defensive Player of the Year in 1972. He was also named to the All-South Texas First Team by the Corpus Christi Caller Times. He later played college football at the NCAA Division II level for Livingston University (now West Alabama). The Tigers advanced to the national semifinals in 1975.
One of his favorite high school memories stems from his senior year.
“…We were playing Alice High School in Bi-District,” he said. “I was credited with 24 tackles and three fumble recoveries for my final high school football game.”
He has fond memories of Cardinals Head Coach Jesse Longhofer (a 1994 inductee).
“Jesse always pushed me to be the best that I could be,” he said. “What I remember the most was, after the last football game, he met with all the seniors and asked us who wanted to continue playing football. Those that said they wanted to continue …Jesse told us he could try to get us a scholarship and get us into college.”