Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la edición 1296 de la revista digital de HOUSTON de ¡Que Onda! Magazine.
Del 11 de abril al 17 de abril del 2024
O.J. Simpson dies at age 76 after battle with cancer, family says
LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson, the former football great who was accused of and ultimately acquitted of the brutal 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend, has died, according to his family. He was 76.
His family announced that he passed away on Wednesday after battling cancer.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace,” a statement from his family said.
In May 2023, Simpson posted a video on X, then known as Twitter, revealing that he had recently “caught cancer” and “had to do the whole chemo thing.” He added, “It looks like I beat it.” Simpson didn’t specify the nature of the cancer.
RELATED: O.J. Simpson undergoing treatment for prostate cancer but not in hospice care
Then in February 2024, a Las Vegas television station reported that Simpson, then 76, was again undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer. Simpson himself posted a video on X that day, denying rumors that he was in hospice care, though he did not otherwise confirm or deny reports that he was ill. Two days later in another video update on X, Simpson thanked those people he said had reached out to him, adding “My health is good. I mean, obviously I’m dealing with some issues but I think I’m just about over it.”
Orenthal James Simpson, nicknamed “The Juice,” broke records as a college and professional football player, and extended his celebrity and fortune as a sportscaster, a movie and television actor, and as a corporate spokesman, most notably for Hertz rental cars.
All that changed on June 12, 1994, when Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were brutally stabbed to death outside of the former’s home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood. Within days, police announced their intention to arrest the former football star for the murders.
ALSO SEE: O.J. Simpson joins Twitter: ‘I’ve got a little getting even to do’
Five days after the killings, 95 million Americans watched as Simpson’s white Ford Bronco – with longtime friend Al Cowlings at the wheel and Simpson in the back seat with a handgun, threatening to kill himself – led police on a 60-mile, low-speed televised chase through Los Angeles that lasted some two hours.
Simpson ultimately surrendered to police and stood trial for the murders. In October 1995, after 11 months from jury selection to verdict, Simpson was acquitted in a trial that was televised daily and became an international sensation.
RELATED: The rise and fall of O.J. Simpson
Twelve years later, Simpson was arrested in September 2007 after he led a group of men into a Las Vegas hotel and casino to steal, at gunpoint, what he claims was his own sports memorabilia. Simpson was charged with a number of felony counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery. The following year, he was found guilty and sentenced to up to 33 years in prison. Simpson was released on parole on Oct. 1, 2017.
O.J. Simpson is survived by four children: Arnelle and Jason, from his first marriage, and Sydney and Justin, from his marriage to Nicole Brown Simpson.
New METRO Board Members Approved Historic Number of Women Serving on the Board
HOUSTON – The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO Houston) Board of Directors today welcomed its newest members appointed by Mayor John Whitmire and approved by vote during this morning’s Houston City Council meeting.
The Board of Directors serves as the governing body of METRO. Members guide decision-making in order to deliver a public transportation system that is an attractive option for means of travel throughout the Houston region. The shared vision of the Board of Directors is to provide customers with safe, clean, reliable, and accessible mobility options.
Mayor Whitmire’s appointments now mark a historic number of women serving on the board at one time including the first Vietnamese American woman appointee and its first Hispanic female chair, with the appointment earlier this year of METRO Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock.
The new appointees are:
- Judge Kathy Han, the first Vietnamese American woman appointed to a full-time presiding judge position in Houston, TX.
- Reverend T. Leon Preston II, Senior Pastor at the Greater Christian Hope Baptist Church in Houston, TX, and Law Enforcement Chaplain for the Harris County Constables Office; and
- Chad McMillan, a leading community advocate for inclusivity initiatives and champion for Houston’s disabled population to live fuller, more independent lives.
- Terry Morales, Vice President of Amegy Bank in the Corporate Banking Division was reappointed to the board.
Pictured from left to right: Terry Morales, Judge Kathy Han, Mayor Whitmire, Chairman Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock, Reverend T. Leon Preston II, Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex-Tatum.
“I am proud to make history with my METRO appointees; each one represents a diverse community. Having a METRO Board with diverse representation recognizes the value of varied experiences and the importance of accessibility for all,” said Mayor Whitmire. “Now it is time to go to work. I expect METRO to operate with transparency and maintain and create additional mobility options. The board’s collective leadership will enhance METRO’s capacity to positively impact the continued growth and success of the City of Houston and region.”
Additional photos are available here.
The members were then sworn in by METRO Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock in the Proclamation Room in City Hall.
“I am excited to welcome the newest customer-centric board members and to continue collaborating with our existing leaders,” said Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. “This is a robust team that is fully committed to making METRO a safe, clean, accessible and viable option that people choose to use.”
The nine-person board has five positions nominated by the mayor of Houston and approved by Houston City Council, , two appointees of Harris County Commissioners Court, and two appointed by the mayors from 14 other cities in the METRO service area (METRO Multi-Cities). Board members serve two-year terms with METRO and can serve a maximum of eight years.
For more information on METRO and its leadership team, please visit www.ridemetro.org.
Vanessa Guillen honored with renamed U.S. Post Office
By Indira Zaldivar & Edward Saenz
In remembrance of Vanessa Guillen, members of the community, local government, U.S. Congress, and the Guillen family attended the dedication ceremony of the U.S. Post Office renamed in her honor. The ceremony took place nearly four years after 20-year-old U.S. Army Specialist and Houston native Vanessa Guillen was tragically murdered on April 22, 2020, in Fort Hood, Texas by another male soldier who had also sexually harassed her.
Que Onda Magazine spoke with Vanessa Guillen’s mother Gloria Guillen and older sister Mayra Guillen upon conclusion of the dedication ceremony.
“[Her murder] hurt so much, especially for me, my children, and my husband, but God continues to lift us up day by day, and I hope it stays that way,” Gloria Guillen told Que Onda Magazine in Spanish.
“It’s wonderful that this post office is in honor of my daughter and that there are laws, streets, and perhaps more things in her name.
“It’s something very significant and precious that they don’t forget about my daughter and continue to honor her memory,” Mrs. Gloria added. “We can’t bring my daughter back with anything we do, but her legacy and memory remain here throughout this nation.”
The Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building is located at 5302 Galveston Road, Houston, Texas 7701, just a few blocks away from César Chávez High School – where Vanessa graduated from high school before enlisting in the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Post Office was renamed by an act of Congress in January 2023 signed into law by President Joe Biden. This marks the first post office to be named after a Latina in the Houston-area.
“Today, we dedicate this moment to the life and legacy of SPC. Vanessa Guillen, as we immortalize her courage through the renaming of this post office. SPC. Vanessa Guillén transforms from a local hero into an eternal presence in our daily lives,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. “Vanessa was a strong and ambitious young woman who was taken from her family and Houston much too soon. However, because of her, countless veterans and service members can live without fear. I hope this post office renaming brings some comfort to Vanessa’s family and loved ones.”
Vanessa Guillen was the middle child of parents Rogelio and Gloria. Her older sister Mayra and younger sister Lupe have been Vanessa’s fierce advocates alongside the matriarch of the Guillen family, Gloria.
The Guillen family’s relentless search and efforts, in honor of their beloved Vanessa, caused a national uproar and led to significant military reform. During the four-year legacy of Vanessa Guillen, Congress enacted the I Am Vanessa Guillen Act, criminalizing sexual harassment and assigning an independent party to investigate sexual assault cases in the military under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Multiple markers, including highways and streets, have been named in honor of the Mexican American soldier.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” said Mayra Guillen, community activist. “I’m happy, but at the same time,..it hurts, but I know she’s happy to see everything we’ve been able to do. It continues to bring her remembrance, her honor, her name after so many years.”
José Pérez celebra sus 100 años junto a su familia, refleja en su legado
By Indira Zaldivar & Edward Saenz
Son dichosos los que llegan a cumplir cien años y entre los Houstonianos tenemos el honor de celebrar la vida larga del centenario José Pérez.
Nacido hace un siglo el 15 de marzo de 1924 en Huanímaro, Guanajuato, México, Que Onda Magazine tuvo el placer de entrevistarlo días antes de su fiesta de 100 años. Platicamos con su cálida familia desde su hogar que ha permanecido en la familia por más de 60 años, que formó junto al amor de su vida, María de la Luz.
José y María de la Luz se conocen desde temprana edad en su natal México. Pero la conquistó cuando Maria era profesora de escuela y él había regresado a México después de trabajar en los Estados Unidos.
Por ser el único que vestía con un traje elegante, Jose llamó la atención de Maria de la luz, así relataron sus hijas Rose Cordaway y Dr. Norma Pérez.
Luego los enamorados se establecieron en Houston, Texas y tuvieron el privilegio de gozar de 50 años casados hasta que María de la Luz falleció en 1998. Su amor dio a fruto 9 hijos, 16 nietos, 41 bisnietos, y 14 tataranietos
Para un matrimonio, Jose nos confesó que la comprensión es clave.
“Quieranse y sepan comprenderse,” resumió el centenario.
Delante de sus tres hijos Rose Cordaway, Robert y Norma Perez, Jose recalcó la importancia del esfuerzo y la educación. Desde su llegada a los Estados Unidos, él no se detuvo de trabajar para sacar adelante a su familia trabajando por varias décadas en la industria del ferrocarril hasta su fecha de retiro en 1987.
“Criar a mis hijos, ese fue mi mejor logro y tratar de llevarlos a estar todo el tiempo pegados a las escuelas,” dijo Jose. “Que estudiaran y que aprovecharán las oportunidades.”
“Trabajar y esmerarse. No importa el trabajo que sea.”
El no ha pasado desapercibido ya que Jose ha recibido proclamaciones por el alcalde de Houston. Y aun después de su retiro, él continúa manteniéndose activo.
Manejaba de aquí para allá con su licencia de conducir válida hasta la fecha ya que Jose se asegura de renovarla, salía a caminar a diario al Selena Quintanilla Park y trabajaba años atrás con su hijo mayor.
Debido a una caída, ahora usa un andador. Pero eso no le impide aprovechar todos sus derechos como ciudadano americano. Pues, Jose es un votante comprometido que participa en todas las elecciones.
Con 100 años de vida, Jose ha asegurado un legado fundado por amor y esfuerzo y una valiosa lección de vida para todos los que aprendan su historia que ha superado adversidades de idioma, barreras geográficas y dolorosos momentos como la pérdida de seres amados.
“Así es la vida a veces hay malos ratos pero…la vida hay que llevarla como el que está arriba manda,” aseguró el centenario sabio y tenaz.
Those who reach one hundred years old are fortunate, and among Houstonians, we have the
honor of celebrating the long life of centenarian José Pérez.
Born a century ago on March 15, 1924, in Huanimaro, Guanajuato, Mexico, Que Onda Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing him days before his 100th birthday celebration. We talked with his warm family from their home that has been in the family for over 60 years, a home he formed alongside the love of his life, María de la Luz.
Jose and Maria de la Luz knew each other from a young age in their native Mexico. But he won her over when Maria was a school teacher and he had returned to Mexico after working in the United States.
Being the only one dressed in an elegant suit, Jose caught the attention of Maria de la Luz, as recounted by their daughters Rose Cordaway and Dr. Norma Perez.
The lovers then settled in Houston, Texas, and had the privilege of enjoying 50 years of marriage until María de la Luz passed away in 1998. Their love bore 9 children, 16 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
For a marriage, Jose confessed that understanding is key.
“Love each other and understand each other,” summarized the centenarian in Spanish.
In front of his three children Rose Cordaway, Robert, and Norma Perez, Jose emphasized the
importance of effort and education. Since his arrival in the United States, he never stopped working to support his family, working for several decades in the railroad industry until his retirement in 1987.
“Raising my children, that was my greatest achievement, and trying to keep them attached to school all the time,” said Jose. “So that they would study and take advantage of opportunities.”
“Work hard and strive. No matter what the job is.”
He has not gone unnoticed, as Jose has received proclamations from the Mayor of Houston. And even after his retirement, he continues to stay active.
He drove around with his valid driver’s license as Jose made sure to renew it, went for daily walks at Selena Quintanilla Park, and worked years ago with his eldest son.
Due to a fall, he now uses a walker. But that doesn’t stop him from exercising all his rights as an American citizen. Jose is a committed voter who participates in all elections.
With 100 years of life, Jose has secured a legacy founded on love and effort and a valuable life lesson for all who learn his story, which has overcome language and geographical barriers, and painful moments such as the loss of loved ones.
“That’s life, sometimes there are tough times but… life must be lived as the one above commands,” assured the wise and resilient centenarian.
EF-1 tornado, severe overnight storms destroy several businesses in Katy shopping center
KATY, Texas (KTRK) — Several businesses are picking up the pieces after severe storms ripped through a shopping plaza in the Katy area, causing extreme damage overnight.
The National Weather Service confirmed Wednesday morning the damage was caused by an EF-1 tornado that had 90-mile-per-hour winds.
ABC13 spotted the damage at a shopping plaza on South Mason Road, just past Kingsland Boulevard.
A Firestone Complete Auto Care in the plaza collapsed, leaving the business nearly unrecognizable.
Debris, including tires, was scattered all across the parking lot. The business’s sign was shredded and leaning all the way over to one side. Several cars in the parking lot were damaged in the chaos.
You can see footage of the storm damage in the video player above.
ABC13 spoke to the employees of Bourbon Street Sports Bar, another business in the plaza.
The front of the sports bar was torn away and the windows were smashed. An A.C. unit that was once inside was ripped out into the parking lot by the wind.
“It was like a rumble. You could hear it. It was picking up and it just kept increasing. That’s what really scared us was you could start hearing, basically the building shake. At that point, we were all like, ‘Get in the back,'” employee Kevin Davis said.
Davis said they were wrapping up, about to close, when they started to hear the high winds around 2:15 or 2:20 a.m. He said the high winds only lasted about 20 seconds, but that was more than enough time to cause some serious damage.
“Thankfully, all of us made it to the back in time. And there wasn’t anybody out front,” Davis said. “We actually had some patrons in a vehicle out front. They said they could not even see Firestone collapse until it had moved past.”
ABC13 video captured a smashed taco truck on its side in the plaza parking lot. It was reportedly parked at the end of the road, and the high winds carried it to the lot.
Emergency crews responded to the scene and taped the area off. CenterPoint Energy turned the electricity off in the area out of precaution.
Houston’s first Hispanic TV news reporter
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — For 34 years, she was a constant on Eyewitness News, making a name for herself right along with legendary anchors Dave Ward and Marvin Zindler.
Elma Barrera did it without ever changing who she was, keeping the authenticity of her name.
“I always said Barrera, so how could I change it?,” said Elma. “It’s hard to forget your roots.”
As Houston’s first female Hispanic TV news reporter, Elma accomplished so much without forgetting her heritage.
She produced and hosted a Spanish TV show, founded the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and also co-founded Houston’s first Spanish language TV station.
“When you were here at KTRK and they didn’t have Univision, how was the Hispanic community getting the information they needed?”
“They didn’t. It just didn’t happen,” said Elma.
In August of 1983, when Hurricane Alicia hit, it was Elma who was able to step in and guide the Hispanic community through the devastating hurricane.
However, becoming a TV news reporter was an accident for Elma.
“I walked into this room and they gave me a job,” she said.
She was working in radio back then and she was at Channel 13 to interview the news director. The topic?
“Why aren’t there more Hispanics in the media?” she recalled.
The very next day, she found herself back at Channel 13 working her very first TV news story.
Over the course of her lengthy career, she covered some fun stories but also the tragic ones. Some of those, she still remembers vividly, such as a devastating car wreck.
“I went behind the building and sobbed. That was the only time that I had broken like that,” she said.
“Did you ever tell anyone about that experience?”
“No,” she said.
The community still remembers her reporting when tragedy struck the Hispanic community. The Moody Park riots were sparked after José “Joe” Campos Torres, a Mexican-American veteran, was beaten and killed by several Houston police officers in 1977.
“They were having a meeting and that turned into a riot. And I was coming in from out of town,” she recalls. “And I heard it on the radio and I said, take me.”
Other stories haven taken her to Central and South America interviewing presidents and giving her Hispanic community a voice.
“I did all these stories and it was second nature to me. It was kind of different, but it was second nature because I spoke Spanish and other people, you know, kind of wanted to do the stories, but they wouldn’t have been able to,” she said.
It has been many years since Elma set foot in her old stomping grounds. The newsroom looks much different but some of her long-time co-workers she still remembers fondly.
She’s as humble as they come but if one thing is true, she broke barriers for many in this industry.
“I’m very happy to have been able to do it because it was not my intention. You know, I just went to do an interview with a news director,” she said.
Capital murder trial starts for man accused in death of boy whose body was found in apartment
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The trial started Tuesday for the man accused in the 2021 murder of 8-year-old Kendrick Lee.
Brian Coulter is accused of beating Kendrick to death and leaving his body to decompose for a year in an apartment. Kendrick’s brothers, including a 15-year-old who ultimately called 911, were in that same apartment with his body the entire time.
Investigators described the scene they found inside an Alief-area apartment three years ago as horrific and heartbreaking.
The boys were in the unit with no electricity, no beds to sleep on, roaches everywhere, and, as one investigator recalled, a distinct smell.
Authorities say Kendrick was killed around the third week of November 2020, allegedly by Coulter, the boyfriend of the children’s mother, Gloria Williams.
Coulter is accused of beating Kendrick, repeatedly kicking and punching him while one of his brothers was inside the room. That’s where Kendrick’s body remained.
On November 23, 2020, Coulter was arrested in Luling, Texas, for unlawful possession of a weapon.
Months later in March 2021, court records show Coulter and Williams moved out of the apartments on Green Crest Drive and abandoned the children.
The couple lived in a separate apartment 25 minutes away. According to the boys, Williams and Coulter would go back every few weeks to drop off some food, but during those trips, Coulter would also beat them.
By around or September or October of that year, the electricity was cut off to the apartment.
On Oct. 24, 2021, the 15-year-old called police, saying their mother had left them alone for months. One of the boys was beaten so badly he needed surgery on his jaw. The children also said they weren’t allowed to leave the unit.
Two days later, on Oct. 26, 2021, Coulter and Williams were arrested outside the Robinson-Westchase Library on Wilcrest, where they were captured on surveillance video.
Sources say they were at the library searching for news articles about the case.
By this time, Williams’ sons were in CPS custody.
Coulter is charged with capital murder and Williams is charged with injury to a child by omission and tampering with her son’s corpse.
Coulter will have a bench trial, meaning there will be no jury since he waived his right to a jury trial back in January.
The trial began with opening statements.
According to court documents, it’s possible the surviving children will testify.
The trial is expected to last a week.
How to know if you have eye damage from eclipse: Symptoms of solar eclipse damage
Millions of people were in the path of totality for Monday’s solar eclipse, where the moon completely blocked the sun. However, looking at the sun without properly made eclipse glasses can result in severe eye injury, from temporary vision impairment to permanent blindness. Even looking at the eclipse through your camera could cause serious eye damage, according to NASA.
The only time it’s safe to view the sun without eye protection is during the totality of a total solar eclipse, or the brief period when the moon completely blocks the light of the sun, according to NASA.
RELATED: Eclipse Across America: Millions of Americans witness a rare total solar eclipse
Millions gather to watch awe-inspiring total eclipse over America – the most stunning images and emotional reactions
“The visible light, that normally would be blinding to us, temporarily isn’t there. It’s blocked by the moon,” Dr. Joel Schuman, an ophthalmologist at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, told Action News leading up to the eclipse. “So, that allows us to stare at the sun without feeling that we’re actually getting harmed.”
Now, in the wake of the solar eclipse, there may be a spike in people wondering if they’ve done some damage to their eyes from gazing up without the proper protection.
But how do you know if you have eye damage from the eclipse?
While the clouds did hamper some viewing efforts in parts of the U.S., many eventually caught a glimpse of at least the partial eclipse.
After experiencing the rare celestial moment, some might find their eyes are bothering them or feeling a little funny, even if they were wearing the protective glasses — but don’t panic. Your eyes are probably fine.
Leading up to the eclipse, experts stressed that it was absolutely necessary to wear certified eclipse glasses or use handheld solar viewers that meet a specific safety standard, known as ISO 12312-2, when watching all other phases of a total or partial solar eclipse. The safety standard means that the lenses meet international requirements for direct solar viewing, according to the American Astronomical Society, or AAS.
Philadelphia doctors explain importance of protecting your eyes during upcoming solar eclipse
When asked about what could happen if you don’t protect your eyes, Dr. Schuman said, “You would burn the part of the retina that has the most sensitive, sharpest vision because you’re looking directly at the sun.”
The lenses of solar eclipse glasses are made of black polymer, or resin infused with carbon particles, that blocks nearly all visible, infrared and ultraviolet light, according to The Planetary Society. And sunglasses don’t work in place of eclipse glasses or solar viewers.
Dr. Schuman said those who don’t protect their eyes could experience what is called “solar retinopathy,” which occurs when intense light energy injures or damages the retina and causes permanent damage.
While the highly specialized cells inside our eyes don’t feel any pain, the rods and cones and photochemical reactors become inflamed and damaged when looking at the sun, said Ronald Benner, an optometrist and president of the American Optometric Association.
It’s a bit like the effect that occurs when we see a camera flash go off, which can distort our vision for a few minutes before it goes away. But the intensity of solar retinopathy causes permanent damage that won’t be immediately apparent. Overnight, the cells can die, and they won’t be replaced. There is no treatment for solar retinopathy. It can improve or worsen, but it is a permanent condition.
The changes in a person’s vision depend on the type of damage that is done, and these can occur in one or both eyes.
“It can take somebody a very short time, even seconds, from seeing 20/20 to seeing 20/200,” Dr. Schuman added.
“The retina is an extension of the brain, so it’s actually neurological tissue, and when you damage that, it doesn’t always come back,” Benner said. “If you damage one cell, that cell may never be the same. But if you damage a group of cells, then you’re going to end up with blotchy vision, like having someone dab oil on your windshield. If you just kind of damage them and they don’t completely die, then color vision is going to be altered. What can you do about it? Absolutely nothing other than prevent it.”
If the damage occurs in the center of someone’s vision, it can affect the ability to read or recognize faces, Benner said.
However, in the unlikely chance of more serious damage, you would have likely already started to experience the symptoms, including blurriness, light sensitivity, or dark spots.
If you experience vision issues or eye discomfort after viewing the eclipse, Benner recommends booking an appointment immediately using the American Optometric Association’s doctor locator. Symptoms may take hours to a few days to manifest, and they include loss of central vision, altered color vision or distorted vision.
“For most people, it’s an alteration of color vision,” Benner said. “The next morning, colors just don’t look right, or it may be bleached out it or just kind of hazy all the time. For others, it may be that they actually have holes in their vision.”
Benner also said to talk to your kids.
“If your child experiences eye damage, they have to live with it the rest of their life. And they may not be able to tell you, ‘I’m not seeing clearly out of one eye,” he said.
Where to recycle and donate your eclipse glasses
If you have special glasses that helped you watch the rare celestial event, here’s what to do with them now that the eclipse is over.
Astronomers Without Borders has been accepting donations for over 15 years. They partner with organizations where you can drop off or send your used glasses.
You can also send them to Eclipse Glasses USA, which takes in used but undamaged eclipse glasses and then repurpose them for other eclipse events.
You could also recycle them by removing the lenses and recycling the cardboard.
When is the next solar eclipse in America?
The next major total solar eclipse will not return to North America for another 20 years — on March 30, 2033 — and only includes Alaska, with a partial solar eclipse over most of the country.
In 2044’s U.S. eclipse, totality will only occur over North Dakota and Montana. Another with a broader U.S. path will occur in August 2045.
CNN contributed to this post.
25 years after fatal bonfire, Texas A&M considers bringing student tradition back
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Building the Aggie bonfire was once among the most prized student traditions at Texas A&M University. That changed when the 60-foot stack of logs fell and killed 12 people in 1999, becoming one of the most painful chapters in the university’s history.
Now, 25 years after the tragedy, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents is considering bringing the tradition back ahead of the school’s first football match against the University of Texas at Austin in years.
Texas A&M President Mark Welsh formed a committee in November to explore how to commemorate the renewed football rivalry with UT-Austin, as the Longhorns join the Southeastern Conference this year. In a January letter obtained by The Texas Tribune, regent and rivalry committee member John Bellinger wrote to families of the 1999 bonfire victims asking for input on the possibility of resuming the bonfire with oversight from the university’s administration.
The video above is from ABC13’s original 1999 reporting on the tragedy.
“The members of the committee and I are extremely sensitive to your loss. I do not want to reopen the many wounds that you have but it is important to me to have your opinion,” Bellinger wrote in the letter, asking to meet with the families.
Sources close to the discussions told the Tribune that Bellinger has proposed that a construction company come in to build the bonfire. Resuming bonfires, they said, appeared to be in the interest of older alumni who had previously been involved in the tradition, rather than current students. Bellinger did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
The first bonfire in 1909 was little more than a pile of wood and trash. It, in time, grew in size and complexity, even hitting a world record in 1969. A 1947 campus handbook read: “Bonfire symbolizes two things: a burning desire to beat the team from the University of Texas, and the undying flame of love that every loyal Aggie carries in his heart for the school.”
In the early hours of Nov. 18, 1999, the stack of more than 6,000 logs that students had assembled that year toppled. Twelve people, 11 students and one former student, died and dozens more were injured, some severely. Those who survived recalled the blood, screaming and students trapped as first respondents triaged and removed the logs.
An investigation into the 1999 collapse, conducted by an independent commission at the order of the Texas A&M administration, found flawed construction led by unqualified student workers caused the wreckage. The report described “excessive internal stresses” on the logs and “inadequate containment strength” in the wiring tying the logs together. It also described “an environment in which a complex and dangerous structure was allowed to be built without adequate physical or engineering controls.”
SEE ALSO: ‘The 13th Man’ revisits the deadly Texas A&M bonfire
When Texas A&M settled lawsuits with victims of families in the aftermath, the university committed to providing architectural and engineering oversight by professionals if it ever brought the tradition back, Darrell Keith, a Fort Worth attorney who represented the plaintiffs, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 2014.
A small group of students now builds an unsanctioned bonfire every fall, about 15 miles away from campus. Bellinger cited safety concerns about those bonfires in his letter to the families of the victims.
“This bonfire has minimal oversight of safety measures and there is a concern that even though this is not a university-sanctioned event, it still involves several hundred TAMU students who could potentially be at risk,” said Bellinger, identifying himself in the letter as a father to a son who once helped build the off-campus bonfire.
Bellinger argued that university oversight of the tradition was in the interest of mitigating those risks. But another rivalry committee member told the Tribune there has been a clear understanding at meetings that students would likely continue to build off-campus bonfires even if Texas A&M started to organize official ones.
RELATED: ABC13 anchor Tom Abrahams reflects on 1999 Texas A&M bonfire stack collapse
ABC13’s Tom Abraham reflects on covering the bonfire collapse at A&M 20 years ago.
The committee member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation, said the two regents that sat on the rivalry committee appeared to have “an agenda.”
Bellinger reached out to the families of all 12 people who died in the 1999 disaster. As of January, Bellinger had visited with six of the families, three of which gave him the OK to restart the tradition, according to committee meeting notes.
“He strongly implied, if not said, that the families who didn’t agree with bringing back bonfire… they didn’t understand the spirit of the tradition and what it means to Aggies,” the committee member said. “It felt like it was just a box to check in saying that, ‘Hey, we tried,’ before creating this tradition that he [Bellinger] wants to bring back.”
Welsh is scheduled to get recommendations from the rivalry committee in May. Susan Ballabina, the president’s chief of staff, said no decisions have been made yet about whether the bonfire will resume.
“After the president is briefed [about the recommendations], he will share his decisions on ideas that will be implemented,” Ballabina said in a statement.
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