The 1960s was an age of modernity, tragedy and societal revolution.  Americans entered the 60s with gas selling at 31 cents/gallon and strong support for fighting Communism in a far-away, little-know country in Asia -- Vietnam.  In 1960, a new NFL Team was created in Dallas, and in McAllen Irene Garza would give her last confession.

     In 1961, the first televised presidential debate lead to election of the first Roman Catholic President.  John Kennedy presided over the failed U.S. supported anti-Castro Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba, and the successful face-off with the U.S.S.R. during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

     Kennedy’s assassination was the first in a series targeting political leaders: Malcolm X (1965), Martin Luther King (1968) and Robert Kennedy (1968).  And, 17 Texans lost their lives at the 1966 UT tower shooting.  Regardless, Texans carried on and marked San Antonio’s 250th Anniversary with HemisFair ‘68.

     Baby Boomers were coming of age and leading the charge for social justice and civil rights.  The former Texas public school teacher in the White House would champion Great Society reforms such as the War on Poverty, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

     Starr County joined the march for social justice in 1966.  Supported by Californians such as Eugene Nelson, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, farm workers in Starr County began a Strike for a minimum wage.  Local police and Texas Rangers, siding with farm companies, arrested protesters.  Later, courts would find protesters innocent.  Inspired by the Selma to Montgomery March, Starr County farm workers marched from Rio Grande City to Austin to push their cause.  La Causa received much attention, but no immediate results.  The next growing season, two farm workers were beaten by law enforcement.

     A few months later the epic Hurricane Beulah hit.  It was a monster.  It made landfall as a category 5 hurricane.  It rained.  It stayed in South Texas … for a week.  More rain.  Record flood levels for rivers as far north as the Guadalupe; more than 100 tornados from Austin to Louisiana.

     Days after the Kennedy assassination Jose Pedro married Ramona and started a family.  Patriarch Pedro C. passed in 1966, leaving Eugenia to manage the feed store.  By 1969 Vietnam was unpopular and gas sold at 35 cents.