History of the
National Assoc. of Taurine Clubs
of the U.S.A.

The birth of NATC was detailed in a 1987 article written by Don Edmundo deAnda, first elected President of the NATC: "During my tenure as President of Barrera Taurina (May, 1962 - May, 1963), the El Paso club reached a very important decision. It was decided that our organization would initiate direct communication with other taurine clubs in our country with the idea of organizing a national association. About the same time, we received a letter from taurine writer and President of Club Taurino of New York, Vincent J-R Kehoe, suggesting formation of a national organization. We sent back a telegram offering to host the organizational convention in El Paso, Texas, inviting Mr. Kehoe to preside over that meeting; he accepted. We contacted all known clubs, and the response was a positive one. A date was set for an initial meeting to which presidents or representatives of different clubs would attend and lay plans for a first official convention at which the first president of our new national organization would be elected.

"And so it came to pass...at the first official convention in 1963 the name was selected - National Association of Taurine Clubs, USA. The meeting was celebrated by having a taurine festival in which four beautiful, brave becerros of pure San Mateo blood were fought and killed by Barrera Taurina Aficionados practicos and invited practicos from two clubs of Cd. Juarez. And, it just so happened that the writer of this article was elected the first official President of NATC, USA."

Those of us who were present at that 1962 Barrera Taurina meeting when Mr. Kehoe's letter was read and the decision made that our club would offer to host the organizational convention, remember a roomful of very excited taurinos. It was electrifying to envision a national organization, particularly an active one in which the taurinos actually would come together for activities, rather than just be conducted through correspondence, as seemed to be the suggestion of Mr. Kehoe. Really firing us up that night were Jim Kirby with his organizational ideas and Don Edmundo deAnda with his concept of making taurine festivals an important part of the conventions that would be held.

Barrera Taurina was pleased that Mr. Kehoe favored our idea of an organizational convention and that he was willing to come to El Paso to chair it. He was the only representative of any club east of the Mississippi to attend, however, so it was not too surprising that he did not have the support needed to be elected our first president. Still, he is given credit for being the founder of NATC, since he was the first person to contact other clubs about forming a national associaiton. He even went so far as to have a tiny 8-page booklet printed listing purposes of the national organization and a roster of the twenty-one known U.S. taurine clubs in 1962. All of this was expanded considerably to form the Charter of NATC, USA.

Nine clubs were officially represented at the 1962 organizational meeting:

Orange County Aficionados, Garden Grove, California had several representatives present, but no official delegate, therefore, no vote.

The organizational meeting was held August 17-19, 1962, at the Del Camino Motor Hotel in El Paso, Texas, with a full schedule of events beginning with a cocktail party at 8:00 p.m. on Friday night and closing with parties on Sunday night hosted by two Juarez clubs. A very stirring keynote address was made by Mr. David Prieto ("El Viejo") of Barrera Taurina in which he invoked the blessings and support of the Patroness of The Fiesta, La Virgen de la Macarena, "Let not your zeal be destroyed. Let it be encouraged and go forward...and may her guidance of this small acorn a big oak tree make." Mayor of the City of El Paso, the Honorable Ralph Seitsinger, attended the opening session.

A great deal was accomplished at the organizational meeting. A charter was drawn up; membership dues were established; and a governmental plan was developed. An Executive Board was set up for 1962-1963:

Appointments made by Chairman deAnda were:

It was decided that the first official convention would be held in 1963, again hosted by Barrera Taurina, at El Paso, Texas. Chairman of the Convention would be Edmundo deAnda and Chairman of Convention Activities would be Jim Kirby. Each member club would be allowed one official delegate to the 1963 NATC convention and a letter of authorization from the club's president would accompany each delegate.

The "Gran Festival Taurino" presented at the organizational convention was certainly a highlight, as Don Edmundo deAnda mentioned. Don Edmundo was president of Barrera Taurina at the time of the organizational convention and he, also, was the key figure in setting up the taurine festival. The U.S. practicos taking part were all from Barrera Taurina - Edmundo deAnda, Mike deAnda, and Hector "El Pipo" Barragan. Max Sanchez of Juarez was their trainer and was extremely helpful throughout the festival. Unfortunately, the names of the Mexican practicos who participated have been forgotten.

Other colorful memories of the organizational convention: Los Churumbeles de Espana, the musical group internationally famous for their hit recording of "Lisboa Antigua", entertained at our welcoming party and surprised us by wearing real matadors' chaquetillas to perform. Matadors for the formal corrida on Sunday were Enrique Vera (Sp.), Juan Silveti, and Antonio del Olivar with bulls of Corlome and they performed in the downtown Juarez bullring, Plaza Alberto Balderas. Antonio del Olivar and Matador-to-be Jose "Pepe" Lopez-Hurtado attened our welcoming party. A pool-side Mexican buffet was served Saturday morning; the taurine festival and a charreada were held that afternoon; and a bar-b-que dinner and baile ranchero that night closed out the Saturday activities. Sunday began with the sorteo at Plaza A. Balderas, followed by a wonderful pre-corrida party at Bar Sevilla in El Paso hosted by Jose Maria Roldan, known as "Pepito de Sevilla", owner of the bar. "Pepito", his lovely wife Julie, and their tiny daughter Pastora provided entertainment, dancing in native Spanish costumes. Everyone had so much fun it was hard to tear away in time for the corrida. Following the formal corrida, fiestas were held at two Juarez taurine clubs, winding up the organizational convention. Best of all, lasting taurine friendships were made, not only across our nation, but also reaching across the border to Mexico.

The first annual convention of NATC was held in El Paso, Texas, August 16-18, 1963, hosted by Barrera Taurina of which Charlcie Joan Clements (now Zavala) was president. Edmundo deAnda was presiding chairman of the convention, and he also became Jim Kirby's co-chairman for planning the convention.

Official delegates at the first convention were:

Most important at this meeting was the restructuring of NATC officer titles, and it was voted to accept eight more clubs, making a total of sixteen NATC charter member clubs. The titles of Chairman and Vice Chairman were changed to President and Vice President. It was decided that five officers would comprise the Board of Directors (later changed to Executive Committee).

The following officers were elected and all by acclamation:

Finances were discussed, and NATC dues were set at $10 per club annually. Jim Kirby advised the delegates Barrera Taurina had lost over $200 presenting the taurine festival for the 1963 convention and suggested NATC should organize its own festival hereafter.

The festival taurino presented in 1963 by Barrera Taurina was billed as an "international competition" between U.S. and Mexican practicos.

The program looked like this:

Toros de San Antonio Triana

The formal corrida held at Plaza A. Balderas during the 1963 convention featured Matadors Ramon Tirado, Jaime Bravo, and Emilio Rodriguez with bulls of Campo Alegre.

All other activities were almost exactly the same as held in 1962. San Diego was the 1964 convention site.

In the first thirty years of its organization, NATC has held conventions in three U.S. cities - El Paso, San Diego, and Chula Vista. Most conventions have been held in Mecxican cities where bullfights can be held - Aguascalientes (4 times), Cd. Juarez, Nogales, Tijuana, Enseñada, San Miguel de Allende, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala, and Zacatecas. Two have been held in France - at Mont de Marsan and at Nîmes. Only one has been held in Spain - at Salamanca.


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Last updated 1 August 1996
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