Ricardo Isaias Zavala (L) with his son Ricardo Javier Zavala (R)

StoryCorps: Ricardo Isaias Zavala and Ricardo Javier Zavala

From: StoryCorps
Series: StoryCorps
Length: 02:32

Ricardo Isais Zavala remembers his grandfather, Vicente Domingo Villa, in an interview with his son, Ricardo Javier Zavala. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: StoryCorps: Ricardo Isaias Zavala and Ricardo ...
From: StoryCorps

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When Ricardo Isaias Zavala came to StoryCorps, his son, Ricardo Javier, asked who the most important person in his life was.

The answer came without a moment’s hesitation — it was Vicente Domingo Villa, Ricardo Isaias’ grandfather.

He told a story that began in the 1920s, when Vicente was a young boy enamored with the vaqueros, or cowboys, who worked on the South Texas ranches where he lived.

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Piece Description

When Ricardo Isaias Zavala came to StoryCorps, his son, Ricardo Javier, asked who the most important person in his life was.

The answer came without a moment’s hesitation — it was Vicente Domingo Villa, Ricardo Isaias’ grandfather.

He told a story that began in the 1920s, when Vicente was a young boy enamored with the vaqueros, or cowboys, who worked on the South Texas ranches where he lived.

Broadcast History

NPR's Morning Edition 5/4/12

Transcript

Ricardo Isaias Zavala (RIV): When he was growing up, he was living in South Texas on ranches.

And his father was a ranch hand, as his father before him was a ranch hand, and his father before him was a ranch hand.

And when he was about six or seven, he did ask his mom if he could have cowboy chaps, just like the cowboys wore on the ranch. He didn’t think he had much of a chance at getting it, but Christmas Day, his mom presented him with a pair of chivarras.

Chivarras are chaps, but instead of cow hide they’re made out of goat skin. It’s a smaller animal, so they fit children a lot better.

And he said he was so excited, he was so happy. That was the best gift he’d ever gotten.

The only problem was that his father got very upset with his mom for having wasted the money on a pair of chivarras for a boy who doesn’t even do cowboy work, and it caused a lot of fighting.

So, he decided h...
Read the full transcript