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'57 state golf champs visit Laughlin

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jonathan Fowler
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Historian Office
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  For the 1957 state champion San Felipe High School Golf team, Laughlin has been a memorable retreat.

Laughlin was visited by two members of the '57 team, Gene Vasquez and Felipe Romero, as well as Humberto Garcia, author of 'Mustang Miracle', which focuses on the team from their start as caddies to their 1957 state championship win.

Along the team's journey, they were involved quite often with the Laughlin community. Hiram Valdes was a civil servant at Laughlin during the 1950's and was a key component to putting the original team together. Valdes saw the young caddies' enthusiasm for the game, as well as their talent, and began to get support for a golf team for San Felipe.

One of the main themes of the book deals with the discrimination between races that provided a challenge for the young team.

"The military took the lead in integrating the races. The fact that Laughlin was here, and demonstrated that everyone was accepted, really helped and bled over into the community," Garcia said.

The crossover of tolerance and understanding between the base and the Del Rio community has always been very friendly, Vasquez said. The feeling of acceptance from the community continues to show to the base personnel, and with the efforts of Team XL, relations with the community have steadily increased.

"Laughlin can emphasize that, though you will face obstacles, achieving your dreams is possible," Garcia said when asked how Laughlin could continue to provide a healthy community involvement. "Whether you want to be a pro golfer or the wing commander, persevere and work hard and anything is possible."