In the year 1598, Spanish explorer Don Juan de Oñate crossed the Rio Grande river for the very first time somewhere near what is now the patio of La Hacienda Cafe in El Paso, Texas. Exactly 360 years later, in 1958, another historic event took place at this location - Barrera Taurina was organized and received its name.
Barrera Taurina evolved from a need for communication between bullfight aficionados. Founded by Al Lopez (designer of the club's emblem) and Charlcie Joan Clements (now Charlcie Joan Zavala), the club was attended by 50 aficionados at the organizational meeting Aug. 15, 1958, and 37 became Charter Members. Since then, an average of 50 to 60 paid members have been on the roster.
The club's first social was a cocktail party honoring American novillero Rocky Moody and he was named our first Honorary Member.
Our first challenge to participate in a taurine festival came in November, 1958, when our club sent Tony Purcell as our práctico to appear alongside 4 aficionado prácticos from the Club Taurino Juan Saldana Miranda of Juarez.
We presented our first festival New Year's Day, 1959, in Plaza Alberto Balderas, Cd. Juarez, Chih., Mexico. Matadors for that event were Hector "El Pipo" Barragan, Jim Ward, Marshall Hill, and Marc Barrosse. Our banderilleros were Henry Castillo and Ted Branham, and our banderilleras were Helen Carriere, Dolores Sweezey, Helena Vasquez, and Charlcie Clements (Zavala). Picadores were Ruben Avelar, Don Sweezey, and Carl Roybal. The Juarez club was there "in force" to see "gringo blood on the sand", but they went away respecting our bravery (none of us except Barrosse had ever fought live animals before) and the smooth organization of the festival; we have been fast friends with the Juarez club ever since, participating in many events, even traveling to ferias in the interior of Mexico, together.
Barrera Taurina has always been dedicated to promoting better understanding of the art of tauromáquia, therefore, educational programs have always been a major activity of the club--not only for our meetings, but, also, before civic, military, and social organizations. In the early days, we all had authentic Spanish costumes made and wore them when we presented programs or rode horseback in the Sun Carnival parade in the manner the Spaniards do at their ferias. Even our parties, which were often big, glitzy taurine awards dinner/dances, were bi-cultural events with taurinos from both sides of the border being invited. In the days when two bullrings were operating every Sunday through the formal season and a complete novillada season following it, there were lots of reasons to celebrate and plan fiestas.
In 1962, Barrera Taurina hosted the organizational meeting of the NATC (National Association of Taurine Clubs). J.R. Vincent Kehoe of New York, chaired the event, but Don Edmundo deAnda of Barrera Taurina was elected our first national president. Barrera Taurina again hosted the next year, and six times after that, making a total of eight NATC conventions hosted by Barrera Taurina during NATC's first thirty years. Our club has always been a strong supporter of NATC. Four El Pasoans have served as NATC presidents:
In 1968, NATC created its first award, the O.P. Houston Award, and Barrera Taurina was voted the first recipient. During NATC's first 30 years, other El Pasoan's who received the O.P. Houston Award were:
The only El Pasoan to receive the coveted George B. Smith Arts & Letter Medal, begun in 1968, was taurine artist Cesar "Silver" Contreras, 1991; but two El Pasoans have earned the Nancy Slayton Award (for outstanding service to NATC) since its inception in 1984:
Our club has presented so many taurine festivales, we lost count, but most often they have been in conjunction with NATC conventions. Some very fine aficionado practicos have emerged from Barrera Taurina, the best-known being: Hector "El Pipo" Barragan, Martin "Sonny" Galaviz, Mike de Anda, Cesar "Silver" Contreras, and David Canales.
During one period, Barrera Taurina won acclaim in El Paso for its fine educational tours to the bullfights. It was a very popular attraction for tourists.
In 1973, the first bullfight museum in the USA was developed by Bill Adams, Raul "Bomba" Gonzalez, and Manolo Peña, with the help from all our members and donations from NATC member clubs. Unfortunatly, it burned in 1988. What little was salvaged from the fire is now at the Escuela Taurina de Juarez.
In spite of the competition tauromáquia has suffered in recent years from television; ever-increasing sports events of all varieties; multitudinous concerts and other spectacularly-staged public events - not to mention bomb threats and other detriments presented by animal rights activists - Barrera Taurina continues to meet monthly and interest in La Fiesta Brava seems to be growing. We are proud to be active in the preservation of this artistic/almost spiritual aspect of Spanish culture.
by Charlcie Joan Zavala
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