Johnny
Aguilera graduated from Eagle Pass High School in 1970 and
is currently practising law in San Antonio, Texas
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In Remembrance...... Juan G. Rodriguez
by
Johnny Aguilera
Class of 1970
I am always delighted to read the exciting news regarding our hometown
of Eagle Pass; thank you for your dedication and hard work on your website.
I am faithful reader of the Eagle Pass Alumni on the Web. Recently, a picture
that appeared on your website of some students (1970) with Mr. Arturo Garcia
caught my attention. The student in the middle of the picture was Juan
G. Rodriguez or as we called him "Johnny". If my memory serves me correctly,
that picture was of the officers of the Camera Club with Johnny serving
as the Club's President. Johnny was active in a number of extra-curricular
activities at school and he excelled in academics. Johnny graduated (with
honors) in my class and started his freshman year at the University of
Texas at Austin with about ten of us other "lost souls" in the fall of
1970. I remember having just turned eighteen years, being scared out of
my wits, and going to this far away place in another part of the world.
We all finished our first year at UT and then Johnny did something that
was unheard of in those days; he transferred to an even further place to
study. Johnny went to study in Providence, Rhode Island and enrolled in
Brown University. I am sure that others from Eagle Pass had gone to study
in more remote places; however, to my knowledge, Johnny was one of the
first person in the early 1970s that went to an out of state university.
Others have followed since then and I am happy to see that the tradition
continues. Johnny graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Brown
and was admitted into Harvard Medical School. Johnny not only graduated
with a medical degree, but also obtained a Masters of Public Health from
Harvard. Johnny went on to work in Atlanta, Georgia in the Center for Disease
Control. I wish that I could continue to tell you of Johnny's accomplishments
later in his life, but as you know, Johnny's life was cut too short and
he died before he could really appreciate the fruits of his toil. I write
to tell you about our friend Johnny because, in so many ways, he represents
what almost everyone from our little city represents - a person with an
unyielding quest to do the best he/she can. Like most people from our fair
city, Johnny came from a humble economic background, but with a rich desire
for accomplishment. Johnny overcame many obstacles and became an exception
to the statistical social predictors of life. Johnny, like many with similar
backgrounds, was not supposed to succeed, but he proved everyone wrong.
After all, a poor child with little or no exposure to a world of museums
and academia is not supposed to excel! In my opinion, the key to success
in anything in life has always been the encouragement a person receives
from parents, siblings, spouses, friends, and teachers. Yes, it takes a
lot of common sense and some intelligence to accomplish something, but
encouragement and self-esteem has to be a big factor. It is fitting that
we recognize that extra push that we received (and continue to receive)
from our family and friends and thank everyone especially our teachers
who had patience and gave us hope. Thank you Mr. David Uriegas (Geometry),
Mr. Ricardo Salinas (Algebra), Mr. Jose Rodriguez (Elementary Analysis),
Mr. Arturo Garcia (Biology), Mrs. Naomi Brown (Counselor/Typing), Mr. Lynn
Purcell (World History), and Ms. Riddle (Spanish). I am sure that Johnny
would have wanted to thank our community. Juan F. Aguilera Class of 1970 |
