Thoughts and Sentiments of Hebbronville

This book completes the documentation of Hebbronville. On the subject of the Catholics, the book talks about the Scotus College, the first church, and Catholic education. On Jim Hogg County, the buildings' stories and the oldest retail businesses and hotels in Hebbronville are featured. Besides, many short stories and vignettes appear. The stories depict life in Hebbronville in the early and middle fifties from the eyes of a former citizen. The last section talks about changes in old traditions, perhaps reluctant changes but inevitable.

Rafael Ramirez, Jr. is a retired business management instructor at Laredo Community College. He was also a public school teacher, an advertising director of a major department store, and the owner of an advertising agency before joining Laredo Community College. He is a graduate of Hebbronville High School, having been born and schooled in Hebbronville, Texas. He is also a graduate of the former Texas A&I College in Kingsville, now Texas A&M University at Kingsville, where he received his Bachelor's Degree. He also earned a Master's Degree at Corpus Christi State University, now Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, Texas. Like his peers, he participated in the military. He was in the United States Army Reserve for a period of eight years in the era which included the Vietnam War and the Cuban crisis, serving both as an enlisted man and an officer. He also taught Military Science (ROTC) at a local high school. A life-long history buff and always inquisitive about his ancestors, his heritage, and his native land, he started to research these areas upon retirement. The assembling of the family tree, the study of his native land, and the research into his family land grant inspired him. He is married to Graciela C. Ramirez, a former Superintendent of Schools in Laredo, Texas. They have a daughter, Cynthia Michelle, who is a high school assistant principal in the same city, in which they make their home, Laredo.