TRANSCRIPTION
What city where you born?
I was born In San Antonio, Texas in 1952 February 1.
What side of town did you grow up on?
Basically central downtown, then we had to move cause of the hemisphere. We move to the near Southside, the neighborhood was like a family. The adults basically knew every kid that lived in the neighborhood and where they live at.
Where did your father work at?
Well my father work at many different places. At first he work at Kelly when I was younger, if I can remember right he work in there warehouse. Then he left to E.L. Smith plumbing and he was a plumber's helper. After that he work Bexar county election center, he did maintenance there working on the election machines.
Describe a typically day from your early teen years?
A typical day during holidays and summers meant that you could wake up later then usually. Have breakfast at home, could go out and play outside with your friends for a longer time. Most of those activities we play were football, baseball, and basketball. I usually had to be home at 7pm. A typical day for when you had school was going to school, attending classes, and coming home. When I would come home I would go outside to play for awhile then come in to do homework if there were any. And at time my father would check my homework.
What did you and your family do for fun?
We never really went on vacation or nothing like that. They use to take us to the park like play land or Brackenridge Park. Sometimes on Saturdays they would take us to my aunts house for a bar b que or for a family meeting.
What made you sad during your child hood?
Moving which we did a couple of times and the loss of seeing my friends no more. The loss of my grandparents and other family members. The normal things that a child would feel sad for. What also made me sad was knowing that you would have to grow up and couldn't always be a child with no worry's.
What is your best memory you can remember from high school?
Probably appreciating the strong academic foundation that I got in private school. An example being in a record keeping class in high school and seeing the other students and their lack of fundamental math skills. The teacher couldn't proceed doing record keeping task because the vast majority of the students didn't have basic mathematical mastery. By this I mean they couldn't perform simple mathematic task. Every Friday the teacher would give us test over our multiples, and remember this was in high school. The nuns gave us strong mathematical skills.
Was education very important back then in your school years?
Naw if you went to high school and finish that was enough. Very few people went to college. It was more important to get a job or learning a trade. People where more focus on supporting themselves as soon as possible.
How was the racial controversy in your growing up years?
Umm, back then all the races pretty much stay to themselves and it was frown upon to see interracial relationships. Sometimes don't want let you go into the restaurants. They would punish you if you spoke Spanish. We had a feeling of 2nd class citizen ship. Many occupations discourage minorities. Some business such as san Antonio saving which doesn't exist now had to be boycotted by Hispanic. St. Mary's university, many years back had a sign that said "No Niggers, No Mexican, No Dogs" this could be verify by looking at recent production of a class by itself which was recently on PBS.
What was your first job ever, and how much did you get paid?
My first job was working with my grandfather at a parking lot. His name is Matt Sepulveda. I was probably eight to nine years old and it was a summer job. And if I can remember I got 12 dollars a week and also got tips. My grandfather use to manage between four and five parking so I also had a summer job growing up.
What was the hang out spot you went too during your high school years?
There was a place right across from Brackenridge high school that was called the Astro. It was like what sonic is today. Although at times we have trouble being sever since we were Mexican. You would go inside and they had booth and they also had car hops. Most of time we couldn't go inside we had to stay outside since we were Hispanic. The only way we could go inside if all of us had money to eat; we couldn't sit there without ordering any food.
What was the first car you bought? And how much did it cost?
The first car was a 1964 Chevrolet impala and I bought it in 1974. It was a blue two door and it cost 700 dollars, I bought it at a car lot that was a block and a half from where I live. I save up the money from working at a Pay Less pharmacy from delivery medicine. I choose that car because the price was cheap and all the other cars were too big. I wanted something that didn't use a lot of gas.
How much did it cost back then to fill up your vehicle?
We never had a car back than but I can remember gas costing about 27 cents so if you had a 20 gallon gas tank it would only cost a person $5.40 compare to the prices now a days.
Do you still keep in touch with friends you grow up with?
Umm, no they all move away to different neighborhoods. Some I see every once in awhile, several are dead. Some went to the same high school and I see them at the reunion. The ones I went to private school I see then more because most of them became professional, like pharmacist, doctors, and police men. Most of the time I just mainly see them at reunions and funerals.
Being Hispanic did you lose out on a lot of opportunities?
Umm, I think so but I lose out a lot on a lot because I didn't apply myself early on. It took me many jobs to see if I was going to improve I was going to need to get a higher education. Most of the Hispanic culture was built upon the work force. They didn't worry about the future it was more about today and tomorrow.
What are some of the main difference from how life in San Antonio is now then it was back then?
Umm, everything is more expensive, entertainment is too manufactured now of day. Of course cost of living have change a lot from those times. There is a lack of respect by the younger generation today towards people, property, and adults. And a disregard for law and order. Too many people today do not have a good work ethic and they just want to get by with the minimum.
What is the most significant thing you can remember about San Antonio?
It was slow place, you create a lot of your own toys. Found ways to entertain yourself, back then we didn't have electronics to keep us busy or occupied.
What is the best thing that happen to you in San Antonio?
Birth of my daughter and my grand kids. Having a peaceful family life as I was growing up.
What advice would you give to young men or women today?
Get some kind of education or learn a trade to be able to help support you. It don't necessary have to be a college education but it can be a program you join to be able to have a skill that will help support your family.
Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?
No, umm, sometimes you want to go back which things wouldn't change. And you regret that time has passed so fast, I wish time would have sat still instead of moving as fast as it did. Times back then were much similar then now and people were a lot more happy back then than now. The crime rate wasn't as high as what it is today and its sad how young people are having baby's so young now a days.
