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About The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame

In the United States, there are Sports Halls of Fame that honor professional and amateur athletes in football, basketball, track, tennis, baseball and other sports. There are also ethnic halls of fame that recognize outstanding athletes from different groups including Italian, Jewish, Irish and blacks to name a few. But, there was not a single sports hall of fame that would recognize, honor and salute the outstanding accomplishments/achievements and contributions of our Latino/Hispanic Sports Heritage not only from the United States but also those who came to this country from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Central and South America and from the vast talent from the Caribbean Islands. The Latin-American International Sports Hall of Fame/Salon de Ia Fama Latinoamericano del Deporte was organized in Laredo, Texas in 1974. At first it was to celebrate, honor and promote local and regional individuals who had excelled at their particular sport but soon it opened the doors to include National and International Professional Athletes. It also recognizes as Sportsman of the Year individuals who continue to preserve and enhance our Latino culture, values and educational opportunities for our youth and who contribute to the betterment of the City of Laredo and South Texas. There have been since its inception an equal recognition of women athletes inductees. It was important to find role models for our youth and the organizers wanted to include all ages, regardless of sex in their programs. The Latin Hall was also created to promote economic development and stimulate business activity in downtown Laredo when local businesses are contracted to provide services to our inductees, their families and guests who visit Laredo during the annual 3-day welcome reception, media luncheon and induction banquet celebration weekend. Through the years. (1975-2014), and with limited amount of funds the organization has, had the opportunity to help the youth of our community with scholarships and other youth activity fundraisers. Plans are to have a Latin Sports International Hall of Fame Museum (downtown) (soon) which will be a first for the United States and to provide clinics (free of charge) to instruct our youth in different sports.

Mission

The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1975 to recognize individuals with good and proper standing in the community, high morals and values and who have excelled in sports and/or have contributed to the promotion of sports and goodwill in the Latino community.


Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame

47th Annual Induction Banquet

Carlos Guerra

Carlos Guerra
Golf Pro Laredo / Mexico
Casa Blanca Golf Course
1980-1993
Carlos Guerra
Golf Pro

When Carlos Guerra was at Christen Junior High he would caddy 18 holes for only 50 cents.

Don Ernesto Bruni liked Guerra so much to caddy for him that he would give him one dollar, so he would give 50 cents to his mom and he would keep 50 cents for himself. He loved to play sandlot baseball as a child.  

In 1943 Carlos volunteered for service in the armed forces. He entered the Navy at 17 years old. Guerra fought through sea and on land at the battle for Okinawa. He was Honorably Discharged in the fall of 1946. 

The Refugio and Maria Consuelo Guerra family, along with Carlos’ siblings, had five brothers involved in World War II all at the same time. They are an extraordinary family that sacrificed so much for their country. Their story was written about extensively in the Laredo Morning Times many times throughout the decades. A family story line that can be related to the famous movie “Saving Private Ryan.”

Guerra worked with the ATF branch of the government and later entered the insurance industry through most of his career before the 1980”s. 

In 1981 through 1993, he was acting golf pro at Casa Blanca County Golf Course, where he helped many sports teams with equipment: hats, uniforms anything the kids needed at Martin, Nixon and various other teams. For the entire 11 years he (and Ada) were running this profitable Municipal Golf Course for the county and citizens of Webb County.  He promoted junior golf programs more extensively and in more abundance than any other golf pro that preceded him.