By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
The San Felipe Lions renamed the Taini Hut, located at 201 Tiani St., the Abelardo H. Ramirez Troop 279 San Felipe Lions Hut Saturday morning.
Ramirez, a Lion who’s now 84 years old, led Troop 278 for more than 60 years.
Twenty-two Eagle Scouts, one of the highest Boy Scout ranks you can earn, came out of the San Felipe based troop. Ramirez said that typically, two percent of Boy Scouts earn the coveted honor of Eagle Scout, so he estimated that there had been 2,000 Scouts in his troop.
The troop was sponsored by the San Felipe Lions, an organization that Ramirez also served in, where he had perfect attendance for 60 years. Ramirez served the organization in a variety of roles, including President and Deputy District Governor.
“It really meant a lot that all of these people came out for this event,” Ramirez told the nearly 50 friends and family members who attended the event.
One of the Lions’ 37 International Directors, who represent the 1.4 million Lions in the world attended the event and presented Ramirez with several awards and spoke. “This is a special day for all of the Lions and people in San Felipe because we are honoring a man who served his community in many different ways,” said T.J. Tijerina, an international director and former Del Rio resident.
“Naming the building for Abe was the most appropriate thing we could do,” said Al Cervantes, a San Felipe Lions Life Director. “He didn’t just serve the needs of the Lions and the Boy Scouts but the needs of the community.”
While Boy Scouts and Lions got much of his effort, after he retired from Del Rio National Bank in 1992, he helped take 3,000 veterans to doctors’ appointments in Kerrville and San Antonio.
“Abe just always quietly serves,” said Roy Musquiz, Sr., also a Lions’ Life Director. “He doesn’t do it for recognition but when he sees a need, he fills it. Very few people know that he’s been serving Meals on Wheels, taking food to the elderly, for the last few years.”
While leading and serving the Boy Scout troop often meant missing one of his three children’s birthdays or Father’s Day, the family had no stress over it. Camp was always in June as were two of his three children’s birthdays and Father’s Day.
“I never minded sharing my dad with Boy Scouts because it meant I had a lot of big brothers,” said Ana Belia Dominguez, his daughter.
Ramirez said his wife, Anna, only had one rule during his Scouting ventures. “She always told me I had to shower before I hugged her after camping trips,” he said.
Dominguez said she was appreciative the Lions’ honored him when they did. “This really meant a lot to my Dad and I’m glad they did it while he was still alive.”
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Contact the author at joelalangton@gmail.com
