Carlos Cuevas named Mr. Amigo 2010
Mexican singer Carlos Cuevas was named Mr. Amigo 2010 during an event held outside of the Mexican Consulate in Brownsville. The Charro Days celebration will take place from Feb. 20-27 with Cuevas headlining the event in Brownsville.
Mr. Amigo Association President Jose Camacho said Cuevas was very honored upon learning of the title last month in San Antonio.
“Carlos is very excited, he liked very much the idea and he gladly accepted,” Camacho said as he added that the singer is a worthy ambassador for Mexico who has taken the country’s music and culture beyond all borders.
“The committee traveled to San Antonio, he (Cuevas) had a performance there so we took advantage of the occasion to give him the news,” Camacho said.
During the presentation in Brownsville, Mr. Amigo Association showed a video presentation by Cuevas who thanked the citizens for the honor and then sang a song acappella.
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Carlos Bañales- Executive Director for Charro Days, Reconnects with his community
When Carlos Banales moved back to his hometown in the 1990s, a friend suggested a good way to reconnect with his community would be to drive a parade float for the annual Charro Days festival.
Eighteen Charro Days Fiestas later, Banales is executive director of the entire festival, leading hundreds of volunteers who each year bring the eight-day community celebration to life.
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Charro Days Volunteers ...Thank You!
Behind the scenes at Charro Days’ popular Illuminated Night and Grand International Parades, groups of volunteers keep the floats fresh and colorful, while others make sure these eye-catching creations are pulled safely and securely through the streets of Brownsville each year.
Like hundreds of other willing helpers, the volunteers who work on parade committees use their creative and organizational skills to make Charro Days an annual success.
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Margal Vicars Charro Days Parade Marshal 2011
Margal Vicars carried the banner for his school in the very first Charro Days parade in 1938. As honorary parade marshal for the 2011 festival, he’ll lead the whole procession.
Vicars, a former mayor and longtime civic leader, has been chosen by the Charro Days board of directors to preside over this year’s Illuminated and Grand International parades on Feb. 25 and 26. He has been a steadfast volunteer for many decades in Brownsville’s annual celebration of international friendship.
His memories of that first parade are rare and priceless:
“I marched in the first Charro Days International Parade in the year 1938, when I was 12 years old,” said Vicars, who will be 85 in March. “I carried the banner to lead our group… I remember that it was such a beautiful celebration because Brownsville had nothing to equal it before.”
Vicars clearly remembers the 50-member military band from Mexico City that marched behind his group. All the local schools, including his from the old El Jardin district, sent delegations of children to participate.
“I was wearing some kind of native costume, I don’t remember which, but I do remember lots of kids marching that didn’t even have shoes,” said Vicars, who was the youngest of seven children in his family. “It was during the Depression and times were very hard.”
Vicars grew up to become Brownsville’s youngest mayor ever, serving two terms in the 1950s. A successful businessman, he also served Brownsville on a wide variety of committees and campaigns involving metropolitan planning, capital improvements and airport revitalization. He is a former chairman of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission, and a current member of the Cameron County Mental Health Task Force, which he helped create.
Vicars and his late wife Sarita made a family affair of helping organize the Charro Days festival. The couple’s late daughter Janice also was an enthusiastic volunteer. Vicars served three terms as president of the Charro Days board of directors, from 1995-1997, helping to secure the organization’s permanent home on East Elizabeth.
His favorite parts of Charro Days now are the parades and “seeing the wonderful costumes” of the children and adults.
“I have so many wonderful memories and friends scattered around the wonderful county of Mexico…,” said Vicars. “I think it’s especially important now that we demonstrate the friendship between our two countries…which is what Charro Days is all about.” |
