THE FAMILY OF EUSEBIO AND LUCIA RODRIGUEZ Three hundred and eighty descendents of Eusebio and Lucia Rodriguez, well-known farming family in Raymondville (1930s to 1970) convened in San Antonio, Texas, July 17 and 18, 2009. Representatives from all of the twelve families were in present. The children, who were all born at Santa Margarita TX east of Raymondville, were Angelita Rodriguez Longoria (Raymondville), Julian Rodriguez (Botesville), Guadalupe Rodriguez Jimenez (Corpus Christi), Wenceslao S. Rodriguez (Ray- mondville). Eloisa Rodriguez Villarreal (Othello, Washington), Eluterio Rodriguez (Lancaster), Enrique Rodriguez (Raymondville), Anita Rodriguez Martinez (Batesville), Juanita Rodriguez (Raymondville), Camilo Rodriguez (Uvalde), Adela Rodriguez Luna (Uvalde), and Eusebio Rodriguez, Jr. (Lafe, Arkansas).

At the last family reunion held in 1981,only one of the twelve children was deceased (Eluterio). At this reunion Mrs. Anita Rodriguez Martinez is the sole survivor. She was the guest of honor. The widows of three of the siblings were also honored. They are: Mrs. Helina Lopez Rodriguez (Raymondville), Mrs. Juanita Martinez Rodriguez (Lafe, Ark.) and Mrs. Esther Zamorano Rodriguez (Uvalde).

A necrology ceremony was held to pay honor and respect to the 53 family members who had died. Grandchildren and greatgrandchildren formed a band of angels, who then proceeded to present a white rose and an American flag, if a veteran. Jerry McGowen and Christina Rodriguez Caldera of Raymondville, Mr. Enrique and Joe Rodriguez from Lancaster, TX, and Joey Martinez from Son Antonio provided spiritual music.

The Raymondville veterans honored were Wenceslao S. Rodriguez (WWII-European theatre under Patton) Eluterio Rodriguez (WWII-European theatre under Eisenhower), Enrique Rodriguez (WWIIPacific theatre under McArthur), Felix Longoria (WWII), Manuel Longoria (Korean) and Kenneth B. Unterbrink (Army-Germany) from Copperas Cove, TX.

Following the invocation given by Joe Longoria (Stafford, TX), a banquet was held. A representative from each family then shared their memories and practical jokes their parents played as well as the struggles experienced by farming families in the 40's to the 70s. The reason families left Raymondville was due to hard times caused by heavy rains and/or droughts when the crops were ready to be harvested and the recession. Many settled in the farming communities of Batesville and Uvalde. Other families migrated to the state of Washington or Arkansas.