Viva San Felipe
SFHS Class of 1969 members show off the purple and gold school colors in the San Felipe Exes Parade on Saturday. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
COMMUNITY — San Felipe Exes parade highlight of biennial reunion
By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
The San Felipe Exes celebrated the lasting legacy of their beloved San Felipe High School with a colorful, jubilant parade through the south Del Rio neighborhood of San Felipe Saturday.
The parade began on West Garza Street, near the site of the old San Felipe High School, which opened its doors to students and their families in 1930 and operated until 1971, when it was closed following consolidation.
The parade, which moved from Garza Street to Cantu Street and ended at the historic Brown Plaza, is one of the highlights of the biennial San Felipe High School Exes reunion, which has been underway here since Thursday.
Reunion events closed Saturday night with a “Purple and Gold Dance” at the Del Rio Civic Center.
Saturday morning’s parade featured a bevy of local queens and a number of area dignitaries, including Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. and his wife Sylvia Owens and Del Rio Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano, who walked the parade route with his mother, Paulita Suarez Lozano, a member of the San Felipe High School Class of 1970 and prom queen.
Other notables included Del Rio Mayor Pro-tem Alfredo “Fred” Carranza Jr. and his wife Delia Carranza, Val Verde County Commissioner Pct. 1 Martin Wardlaw and his wife Elaine Wardlaw and son Kerr Wardlaw, Del Rio City Councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon, Del Rio City Councilman Steven Webb and his wife Linda Guanajuato Webb, a member of the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees and San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District Trustee Josh Overfelt and his wife Elizabeth Overfelt.
Several floats honored the San Felipe High School Class of 1971, which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
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Del Rio Councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon waves the U.S. flag as she rides in the San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Drummers with the Del Rio High School Mighty Ram Band set the beat as they march in Saturday’s San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Del Rio Councilman Steven Webb, right, and his wife, Linda Guanajuato Webb, left, an elected member of the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees, ride in the San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Members of the Queen City Belles perform a dance routine during the San Felipe Exes Parade on Saturday. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Toxic Cheer members ride in Saturday’s San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Miss Queen City Teen Gisele Treviño in Saturday’s San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Members of the SFHS Class of 1965 ride in style in the San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Miss Queen City 2021 Viviane Salinas waves while riding in the San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Del Rio Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano, right, walks the San Felipe Exes Parade route with his mother, Paulita Suarez Lozano, who was a member of the Class of 1970 and prom queen. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Josh Overfelt, right, and his wife, Elizabeth Overfelt, left, ride in the San Felipe Exes Parade. Josh Overfelt is an elected member of the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Members of the SFHS Class of 1964 wave at parade-goers during Saturday’s San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Former San Felipe High School students celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SFHS Class of 1971 with this float in Saturday’s San Felipe Exes Reunion Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Members of San Felipe High School’s Class of 1970 show off their spirit. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
SFHS Class of 1970 classmates Joe David Zuniga, left, and driver Gilbert “Titila” Martinez, right, ride in style in a restored Chevrolet Impala SS. A sign on the Chevy’s door read, “Oldies But Goodies.” (Photo by Karen Gleason)
San Felipe Exes Queen 2020-2021 Amaya Isabella Valdivia in Saturday’s San Felipe Exes Reunion Parade, which started on Garza Street and proceeded to the Brown Plaza. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr., right, and his wife, Sylvia Owens, left, ride in Saturday’s San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Miss Val Verde Aubany De La O waves during the San Felipe Exes Parade. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Val Verde County Commissioner Pct. 1 Martin Wardlaw tips his cowboy hat during Saturday’s San Felipe Exes Parade. Joining the commissioner were his wife, Elaine, and son, Kerr Wardlaw. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Del Rio Mayor Pro-tem Alfredo “Fred” Carranza Jr., right, and his wife Delia in the San Felipe Exes Parade on Saturday. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Felipe Romero, left, and Gene Vasquez, right, are the surviving members of the San Felipe High School Mustangs 1957 State Golf champions. Humberto Garcia, center, wrote a book about the champs, titled “Mustang Miracle.” (Photo by Karen Gleason)
