Faith to Dream Big: Biography of Ramón Villarreal Sr.

By Javier René Solís

If you are looking for a fiction flash and dash story line and sassy phrasing, this is definitely not the book for you. This is a real story of the American dream come true. It is about a Hispanic man, Ramon Villarreal Sr., his faith, dreams, family, suffering, and perseverance. These ultimately lead him from obscurity and poverty to prominence and prosperity. He is able to maintain his humility from having "no say" to remarkably having the "final say". This is a recipe and study of good old-fashioned values, diligent hard work, and faith in God. In, perhaps, the most unlikely of settings in deep south Texas along the Mexican border, you will find the main principles that can make any person anywhere a true success. Read and use it for family entertainment or as a personal manual / teaching tool, as it focuses on spiritual, practical, business, cultural, historical, and inspirational themes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468555813

Javier René Solís

Javier Rene Solis was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and an aspiring musical artist. He had the privilege of being a Physical Education teacher at the elementary level for 8 years. He is the fourth of five children and all of them happen to be educators as well. His parents, Jose and Estella, along with several generations of ancestors have lived exclusively in Texas. He is proud to be an American of Mexican descent, and to also be from the Magical Rio Grande Valley of deep south Texas, which is located just minutes from the international border to Mexico. He has been quoted with the following: "To be Hispanic and live here in the Rio Grande Valley we get to experience the best of both cultures. At times It seems that we do not belong to either one, but we are also not entirely alienated from either one. What has formed is what we proudly know today as TEX-MEX ! It's all our own thing!"

Book preview

Chapter 1

Recipe for Success

There is an old adage of two trees with very different experiences. One tree has been nurtured since being planted next to a house with warm sun, water, nutrients, and delicate pruning from uniformed gardeners. The other tree has struggled ever since on a rocky wind-swept mountainside. It competes for sunlight, moisture, and soil with other towering trees in a daily fight for survival. The adage considers which of the two trees is more likely to end up the majestic and strong one that reaches and scrapes the sky. Which of the trees do you think???

It’s a nice evening and the breeze is blowing just right. The Rio Grande Valley south Texas sun is setting and it paints the western sky reddish-orange. It’s another gathering at pool side in the backyard of Ramón and Beatriz Villarreal’s home, where many an important event has taken place. Birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, and graduations just to name a few have all created memories that no photo or video camera can completely capture. Their four children, eleven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren are all enjoying this particular evening. Interesting smells of barbecued beef, chicken and other side dishes, such as rice and beans drift about the yard. Great grandchildren splash and play in the pool with colorful bathing suits and arm floaties. Standing just far enough not to get wet, the adults laugh and chat together. There is a vibrant sense of family that has come to be expected, but is not taken for granted. Music and talking come to a hush as Mr. Villarreal guides them in a prayer of thanksgiving for each other, the day, and the meal. Wet kids and grown-ups alike accept the moment of just being together. Some time later after everyone has eaten, he leans over and looks to Beatriz, his wife of 54 years, and asks with a smile, "Isn’t this what life’s really all about after all? Aren’t we blessed?

ray5.jpeg.jpg

50th Wedding Anniversary

This is the story of a man who overcame many obstacles and became a great person and example for anyone anywhere wanting to know how to truly succeed in life.

Chapter 2

Humble Beginnings

So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5: 6

Ramón Villarreal Sr. was born in Edcouch, Texas on October 23, 1933 as Román, but on his birth certificate it was mistakenly written Ramón. Ramón was named after his older brother Román who died as an infant. Edcouch is a very small rural agricultural community of deep south Texas in the Rio Grande Valley about 20 miles north from the international border to Mexico. It is now more commonly referred to along with Elsa, as Edcouch-Elsa. Elsa is a neighboring town of about 6,000 inhabitants and they share one high school. At that time there was an Anglo-American population that led civic, school, and business in the area. At its creation in the late 1920’s a railroad track divided Elsa from north and south. The south was reserved for Anglo-Saxon residences and businesses, and the north was reserved for Hispanics. If a Hispanic was caught on the south side after sunset, they would be arrested on the spot. Due to lack of education, political and cultural influence, Hispanics or Mexican-Americans were not involved in roles of administration or leadership. The effects of the Great Depression of that era made little to no visible impact on this area of the United States. Hidalgo County and the Rio Grande Valley area itself have long been regarded as one of the most impoverished areas in the whole nation. Today over 90% of all households in the Elsa area earn less than $10,000.00 in a single year. Eighty or so years ago poverty and unemployment also impacted most families as they still do today. Now over 98% of the population is Mexican-American and they now are the main leaders in the community.

From such a community apparently lacking in promise and prosperity, one man, and certainly others have been tempered by