Anastacio "Stacey" Farias

Anastacio “Stacey” Farias to be inducted SaturdayThe induction ceremony is at 7 p.m. at the Laredo Country Club on Saturday, but tickets are sold out and won’t be sold at the door.Born in Laredo on April 10, 1913, the late Farias distinguished himself on the basketball court as a standout for San Antonio’s Lanier High School in the 1930’s. His prowess on the hardwood garnered him numerous accolades and recognitions, including helping his team win city championships and being named All-City Center three years in a row. San Antonio sportswriters christened the basketball standout “Stacy” because they could not pronounce his first name.

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Richard G. Morales

A native of Galveston, Morales and his family came to Laredo when he was five years old. Growing up in the Gateway City, Morales quickly became a standout in sports — especially at Martin High School — where he earned four athletic letters in football and track, and three in basketball.

While excelling in all three, he was at his best when it came to track. He accomplished his most memorable feats as a track star, being one of the few sprinters to ever run 100-yards in less than 9.9 seconds.

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Roque Vela, Jr.

The induction ceremony is at 7 p.m. at the Laredo Country Club on Saturday, but tickets are sold out and won’t be sold at the door.

In South Texas, football reigns supreme. On a given crisp Thursday, Friday or Saturday fall night, teams take to the field locked in battle. A few of Laredo’s gridiron giants have made the leap from the ranks of the local high school field to university stadiums. Roque Vela Jr. stands out from the rest.

Vela’s football career began at C.L. Milton Elementary, where he played flag football under Coach Rocha. Vela’s talent was a certainty. While at Lamar Middle, he showed prowess on the field, earning Most Valuable Player honors during the 1990-91 season.

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L to R: Felipe Romero, Guadalupe Felan, Gene Vazquez, Joe Treviño and Mario Lomas

Golf is the one game that can never be won. There is always a better score; always something to improve upon. No one can beat golf. On the flipside, golf is a game that has a blind-justice way of leveling every field. Bad lies happen to good players, while hacks hit miraculous shots. 

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The St. Joseph’s Academy Antlers won two consecutive Texas Catholic Interscholastic League basketball state championships in 1971-72 and 1972-73. Both teams will be enshrined in the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Laredo Country Club.

For many years, St. Joseph’s Academy served as Laredo’s Catholic high school for boys. Run by the Marist Brothers, the academy produced young leaders, who grew up to be judges, doctors, elected officials and community leaders.

It also produced something else: two back-to-back Texas Catholic Interscholastic League basketball state championship teams in 1971-72 and 1972-73.

The ’72 and ’73 Antlers had all the ingredients of champions. Their roads to victory was littered with come-from-behind victories, clutch plays and never-giveup attitudes. Strong individual, team, bench and defensive efforts resulted in Laredo’s state basketball championships.

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