Reprint from the Progress Times - October 19, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Ramirez Family Honored
Prolific family produces politicians, authors and businessmen

 

By Kathy Olivarez

The descendants of Rafael Ramirez Sr. were honored as one of Mission’s pioneer families on Saturday, October 6, at the Mission Historical Museum. Ruben Plata, president of the museum board, made the presentation. Lila Ledesma, granddaughter of Rafael Ramirez Sr. and daughter of Jesus Maria Ramirez, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the family’s history.
Rafael and Maria De Jesus Villarreal Ramirez moved to Mission in 1911 and established a dairy and meat market to serve the community. Rafael had strong ties to Rio Grande City and Starr County where he grew up but he wanted the challenge of getting in on the ground floor of a new city. Rafael established the Rio Grande Meat Market while his wife managed the dairy operation.
The couple made their home at what is now 504 Doherty Street. Their home grew to include three bedrooms and a kitchen, dining room and office area. Bath facilities were in a barn behind the house. Because of his businesses, Rafael had one of the first telephones in town; his phone number was 29.
Rafael and Maria had six children. Two daughters, Lilia and Rosa, moved with the couple from Rio Grande. They were followed by four sons, Rafael Jr., Oswaldo, Arnaldo and Jesus Maria.
The couples were active Catholics and all four children attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School.
Rafael died in 1929, the beginning of the Great Depression. Maria found herself a 50-year-old widow with six children to support. Times were hard and much of the family’s ranch and farmland in Starr County was sold to keep the family going.
The hardships took a toll on Maria and she suffered a series of strokes in the 1930’s. Her sister, Hilaria, moved into the house and took over management of the household. Maria’s medical bills forced the family to sell the meat market.
Maria died in 1940 as the result of an automobile accident.
Music was very important to the Ramirez family and the oldest son, Rafael Jr. made music his career. He composed several songs in Spanish and earned the title "El Compositor de Mexico de Afuera," (The composer of Mexican music from outside Mexico). Several of his most famous are Lloraras, Nuestro Amor, and De Pies a Cabeza; they achieved international fame and are still sung by many.
Oswaldo, who lives in Austin, married Lillian Hollingsworth of Mississippi in 1943. They had seven children. Oswaldo fought in World War II where he received the Bronze Star for his achievement during World War II against the Germans in 1945. He also received the Jubilee of Liberty medal for his involvement in the invasion of Normandy in 1944.
After serving in the military and getting a law degree at Loyola, Oswaldo had a varied career that took him to several South American countries where he dedicated himself to good international relations with those countries. His career took his family to Honduras, Peru and Chili. He and his family were escorted out of Cuba after the Bay of Pigs invasion attempt.
Oswaldo wrote a book about his life, The Fire Within. The book details his life and his work to improve international relationships between the United States and the countries where he worked. The book can be purchased at the Mission Historical Museum.
Arnaldo "held down the fort" at home while his three brothers went off to war. He managed the family business. He married Christina Guerra and had six children, and served four terms as mayor of Mission.
When Rafael returned from the war and started his musical career, Arnaldo and Rafael started a record company in their home.
Arnaldo became the business manager while Rafael composed.
Arnaldo pioneered the sale of Mexican music and entertainment in the United States. He became president of ARV Corporation House of Falcon, Inc. and RAMMS Publishing. He also had a television show, Fanfarria Falcon, that played Mexican music. The show aired throughout the United States and Arnaldo was known as "Mr. Falcon."
Also acting as goodwill ambassador to Mexico, he took part in the International Good Neighbor Council.
During the war Jesus Maria, the youngest son, served in the Philippines and later Japan as a military police officer. He received The American Theater Campaign Medal, The Asiatic Campaign Medal and a Philippine Liberation Medal for his service.

After the war Jesus Maria took a job as a Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Deputy after returning from the war. He moved the family to Mexico for five years when he worked with the United States Department of Agriculture during the time Mexico was being ravaged by hoof and mouth disease. Later he took a job with the McAllen Police Department.
In 1959 he became Mission’s police chief. The family is very proud of his record. In 1960 Southwest Law had an article that stated Mission had one of the most efficient police departments of any small town its size in the United States.
Later Jesus Maria joined his brothers in the music business and traveled all over the United States as a salesman and music promoter. He also searched for new talent.
Lilia and Rosa were both housewives who were active in the church. Lilia married Pablo Martinez while Rosa married Jose Cavazos.
Many descendants of the Rafael Ramirez Sr. family still make their home in Mission or in surrounding communities. They still offer their talents to the community in a variety of ways.