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| Manuel Esparza scored the lone touchdown against Cotulla in the 1963 opener. By the end of the season, Esparza ranked asthe number 10 rusherstatewide from all divisions and earned all-state honors. (Photos from Alice Echo News.) |
Manuel Esparza, Jr, a starter for the 1964state basketball team, was born May 5, 1946, to Margarita and Manuel Esparza,Sr., whom he shared with his sister, the late Ramona Esparza. Like most teammates, Esparza attended St.Francis de Paula Catholic School, a vital part and foundation in his life.
“My father passed in the fifth-grade year, andthis really hurt,” Esparza recalled. “Ireally missed my father and the encouragement he gave me in everything I wasinvolved in.” Fortunately, his mother, sister,grandparents, aunts, uncles, priests, teachers, coaches, and other adults guided,supported, and greatly influenced his life.“They helped me stay focused and close to the church,” Esparza said.
He moved to public schools in the 7thgrade, where he found team sports, such as football and basketball. When he reached high school, he played on thevarsity football team in his first year.In basketball, he played on the Junior varsity and suited up for thevarsity games, getting playing time “once in a while.” During his sophom*ore year, he started bothways in football and also did the punting and kicking. He was also a starter on the district championshipbasketballteam.
“That sophom*ore year, I remember the day of our playoff game withFreer for the district championship. Iwas very sick with what I thought was the flu.I couldn’t attend school, and Coach (Anthony) Cubriel came to my housewith some medication for me. I feltbetter by the time we got on the bus to go to Freer. I played well that night as we beat Freer and was the second-leading scorer behind Duffy Ibanez. But after the game, I felt worse than I hadbefore. Fortunately, I was in good shapewhen we played Devine in the bi-district game,” Esparza recalled.
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| Esparza was the number 10 high school rusher in 1963, joining the likes of Linus Baer, Chris Gilbert, first player in NCAA history to record three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and ahead of Warren McVae who came in twelfth. |
As a junior, Esparza was a two-way starter in footballand basketball. He made All-District infootball and again started on the district championship basketball team. During his senior year, he was a two-waystarter in football and was selected to the All-District and 3rd teamAll-State, which was impressive since the Vaqueros football team did not have awinning season.
In basketball, Esparzareceived All-District and All-Tournament recognition. He also ran the 100-yard dash and sprintrelay team on track and participated in the high jump.
“I believe our 1964 basketball team wasblessed because we had eleven players that blended well together. We had the chemistry, work ethic, andunselfishness that brought us success on the court,” Esparza said. “Onoffense, we always had to be on the lookout when Lupe Ibarra had the ball; younever knew when the ball was coming your way.I especially had to be on the lookout;I didn’t want to get hit in the face and have my glasses broken. Lupe probably has the record for the mostassists. All of us are and remain greatfriends off the basketball court.”
Sports were not his only achievements. “I thank God for giving me the ability to do well in academics and sports,” Esparza said. I was a National Honor Society member andthe Student Council President in my senior year.”
Upon graduation, Esparza received a fullfootball scholarship from Texas A & I University in Kingsville, where hewas on the kicking team and played a bit at tight end during his first year. Later, he transferred to Texas LutheranUniversity, where he started as a running back and also did the punting andkicking,” Esparza recalled.“During my senior year, I set the recordat TLU for the longest run from scrimmage, 88 yards, which stood for about 20years.”
After graduation, Esparza joined his highschool basketball and track coach, Modesto Garcia, at Robstown High School, where Esparza was the varsitybackfield coach and assistant in basketball during his first year. Coach Garcia became the head coach thefollowing year, and Esparza was his line coach and defensive coordinator fortwo years. When Coach Mo left, Esparza becamethe head football coach and Athletic Director at Rostown.
That year, Robstown moved us to 4A, the highestclassification, Esparza recalled. After two years as Robstown head coach and AD, he moved to Alice as the varsity backfield coach for two years and later coached in San Diego for one year. After eight years of coaching, he began a career as a life insurance and financial advisor,which he has been doing for over 46 years.
“I thank God for all the blessings he hasbestowed upon us; first, my Catholic faith; second, my family; and third, mycareer, my clients, and my friends. Heserves as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, a reader, and serves onthe Finance Committee at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Alice. He has also served as President of the ParishCouncil and other parish and Catholic School committees.
In addition to his church, Esparza has servedon the Jim Wells County Master Planners Association and as President of theAlice Kiwanis Club. He was on the TLUAlumni Board for six years, serving as President for two years. He also served three years on the TexasAssociation of Insurance & Financial Advisors Board of Directors.
Of course, his most important occupation ishis close-knit family. He has beenmarried to his wife Irma for 55 years, and they have three sons and sevengrandchildren. “We enjoy our timetogether and support and encourage each other,” Esparza said.
“We learn important things in sports: teamwork, hard work, and perseverance. But I believe we place too much emphasis onsports at times, giving athletes and other famous people too much importance. We don’t know everythingand are never too old to learn. I alsofeel that we need to increase our spiritual intelligence and thank God for whathe has blessed us,” Esparza advised.
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| Manuel Esparza, flanked by blockers Erasmo Estringel and Israel Benavides. |
