ELEUTERIO "Lou" GARZA

Basketball Coach
Roma High School
Texas State "AA"
Final Four 1972-1976
Rio Grande Valley Sports
Hall of Fame 1993

Eleuterio Garza Jr. is a 1961 graduate of Benavides High School and a 1964 graduate of Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas. He majored in Health and Physical Education and earned a Master's Degree in School Administration from Texas A&I University in 1969. Lou Garza and his wife, Delia, also from Benavides, Texas, have five children. The Garzas still reside in Roma, Texas. Coach Garza began his career at Cummings Junior High School in Brownsville, Texas in 1964, coaching all sports at the eighth grade level. He moved to Romain October 1967 where he accepted the position of Athletic Director/Head Basketball Coach at Roma High School. Coach Garza held this position until he became superintendent of schools for Roma I.S.D. in 1978. He served the district as superintendent of schools for the Progresso l.S.D. from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Garza is now retired and enjoying life in Roma, Texas. Coach Lou Garza's coaching records is truly an exceptional one. His outstanding coaching career really put Roma and the Gladiators on the basketball map. During his tenure as basketball coach in Roma, he posted 298 wins and just 67 losses between 1967 and 1978. Roma reached the State Semi-Finals in both 1972 and 1976. The Gladiators were 99-9 in district play. They were also Co-Champs in 1969, District Champs from 1969 to 1978, won six HiDistrict titles and were Regional Semi-Finalists four years. and Regional Champs twice. Coach Garza credits his success to a lot of hard work by many young men who were willing to pay the price, strong support from parents and community, and to outstanding school support from students, staff. and administrators. Coach Eleuterio Garza's outstanding career was highlighted by his induction into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame in April 1993.