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2002 Events |
“So you want to be a Cowboy”
As I made my way down Hiway 90, from San Antonio to Del Rio, Texas, I was trying to visualize what it was really like to be a Cowboy. Not someone that owned a hat and a pair of boots, but the real deal. With mesquite trees and sagebrush, cactus and thorns as far as I could see, I began to realize that life, as a Cowboy, would be pretty tough, especially in Texas. I was told I had witnessed a miracle by seeing what few drops of rain there were in Hondo, and that rain was a welcome site, when it finally did come.By: Art Pasley Southern Director Once I arrived in Del Rio, I had the privilege of staying with C.A.S.T. event host Ron Castle, and his wonderful wife Sara. Ron is one of six State Directors in the Texas Federation. “I hope it doesn’t rain,” stated Ron, as we watched a small group of deer roaming through the hills surrounding Lake Amistad, and the Castle home. “The lake is very low and rain would be a welcome site, but everyone is looking forward to the event and I wouldn’t want the kids to be disappointed”, he continued. After watching the evening news and local weather, we settled in for the night, with hopes of another great event, for the kids in Del Rio, and no, we didn’t sleep in bedrolls under the stars. The following morning we were pleasantly surprised to see clearing skies and beautiful weather. Boaters from the area and volunteers arrived, and the race was on. As 31 kids from the Special Education Department of the San Felipe Del Rio CISD arrived, they were immediately paired with the boaters, pictures taken and off to the lake. Lake Amistad separates the boarder of Texas and Mexico. The clear blue water of Amistad boasts some of the best fishing in Texas. Having fished the lake in the past, I can tell you, there is nothing more exciting than seeing fish in water 35 to 40 feet deep, charging after your bait, and trying to rip the rods out of your hands. As was then, so was the case today, as almost every kid told stories of their days catch and many posed for pictures with their boaters and fish. As we reassembled at the Air Force pavilion, everyone enjoyed a great lunch prepared by Sara and her mother and several of the boater’s wives. I bet Cowboys didn’t eat this good. Once finished, the children received their plaques, posed for more pictures and I was told that a few went back out with their boat captain, for more fishing. When I look at the difficulties most of the kids in our program face daily, I can’t help but think about how tough their lives must be. The pain associated with treatments and therapy and medication. For one day, the thrill of going fishing, with people like Ron and the members of his region and friends in Del Rio, seem to make all their problems go away. The smiles on every face is proof enough for me that they left their worries at home and were having a fun day of fishing with their new friends. Do I still want to be a Cowboy? Naw, I think I’ll just keep doin this for a while longer. Cowboy boots hurt my feet. Vaya con Dios my friends. Locals Help Kids Catch a Special Thrill
"My launch plan just disintegrated, it's every man for himself; aw, let's just go catch some fish." Ron Castle's tightly structured organization for a flotilla of boats, thirty kids, and nearly as many volunteers seemed to unwind early Saturday morning, but the important things were in place. The Catch a Special Thrill (CAST) Foundation had matched up a new rod and reel, full tackle box, snazzy ball cap, and T-shirt for every one of the disabled or disadvantaged children selected to participate in the morning's outing on Lake Amistad. The morning began with an introduction and some basic fishing tips from Art Pasley, southern regional director for CAST for Kids Foundation.by Bill Sontag Del Rio News-Herald Published October 20, 2002 The Air Force's Southwinds Marina hosted the morning launch and the afternoon's festivities. In between, Del Rio business owners, professionals, teachers, volunteers, and a few crusty old fishermen, took gentle charge of the somewhat overwhelmed children, suited them up in life vests, got them safely onto their personal bass boats and pontoon boats, and sputtered out of the marina harbor onto a quiet lake. The only exception to the personally-owned craft was a pontoon party boat, rented to support the occasion by Frank Bomar who, when he's not fishing, is a T-38 aircraft mechanic at Laughlin Air Force Base. Flamingo 50's owner Rick Isenhour's pontoon boat easily carried half a dozen wide-eyed children many of whom had never been on a boat, much less out on Lake Amistad. Castle is regional director of the South Texas Chapter of the Bass Anglers Sportmen's Society (BASS), the oldest bass-fishing organization in the United States. BASS and CAST are likely partners across Texas to acquaint kids with an outdoor sport with many benefits that transcend catching fish. The only thing missing from their philanthropic effort was kids. Maria Gonzalez-Ramirez, San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District's special education director, answered that call, selecting about thirty lucky youngsters from local elementary schools. Though the weather forecast Friday night was not good, the Saturday climate seemed to cooperate, minimizing apprehensions the kids may have felt under inclement circumstances. The cool cloudy morning became a warm sunny afternoon, with diffused light adding to the tranquility of placid water. A child who had never heard waves on rocks piped up, "What's that?" only when the wake of a passing boat went ashore. Isenhour was clearly excited for the kids, exclaiming "You just watch; some of these kids are going to catch a fish, and that impact will bring tears to the eyes of some of these volunteers." And, indeed, some of the kids did catch fish, though most did not. Disappointments were pleasantly obscured by the entire experience. Volunteers worked hard to encourage the children. San Antonio banker Lisa Hill urged 11-year-old Juan Villareal, "Try that fat, purple, sparkly worm. Fish might like that." School district bus monitor Toni Ruiz gave one-on-one attention throughout the morning to 12-year-old Sergio Padilla. Isenhour not only took his charges fishing, but gave them a lake tour beneath the Hwy. 90W and Union Pacific Railroad bridges, too. Then each of his six young passengers joined him on the captain's chair at the wheel and throttle, honking the boat's horn, driving the boat back to Southwinds Marina. Shy, ten-year-old Brenda Hernandez, fishing and boating for the first time, said she'll tell her classmates at Lamar Elementary Monday morning, "I had fun." Her parents Rick and Maria went along on the trip to enjoy the day with their daughter. Fat hot-dogs, chili, beans, and beverages were provided by Isenhour and his family, with cooking assistance from Sara Castle in the Southwinds pavillion. Master of Ceremonies Jim Bush chided the volunteers like an auctioneer, congratulated the kids, and thanked the numerous sponsoring organizations who made the event a success. These included Flamingo 50's Hamburgers, Wal Mart Supercenter, Labatt Food Service, Elks Lodge 837, Waypoint Marine, Del Rio Host Lions Club, San Antonio Shoe Company, and Choke Canyon, Brush Country, Del Rio, and Lone Star Bassmasters. In addition to the clothing and fishing tackle donated, each child "graduated" from the workshop with an attractive marbleized plaque, personalized with their individual photo taken at the launch hours earlier. Fisherman/volunteer C. E. Thetford printed the photos while the kids were on the lake, and installed them on their plaques in time for the lunchtime graduation. Longtime Amistad fisherman John Reavis summed up his personal motivation. "You just can't do enough for kids. A few years ago my grandkids visited me, and were just watching TV, saying they weren't interested in fishing. I told them 'Get your asses off the couch and come with me!' Now, every time they come to visit, the first thing I hear is, 'Papa John, when are we goin' fishin'?'" (c) 2002 Del Rio News-Herald. All rights reserved.
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