Special to El Rrun-Rrun
In a police officer's day, it is not unusual that as they go about their way, he/she will face scenes of tragedy or numbing experiences that can change suddenly on any given day.
And if they happened to have been born and raised in Brownsville, they probably knew everyone they met on their beat.
Such a man was Roy Patrick "Pat" Tamayo who old timers will remember when he wore a Brownsville Police Department uniform walking the beat. He was a common sight when Brownsville was small enough that the local cops could easily recognize the good, the bad and the ugly of our city.
Such a man was Roy Patrick "Pat" Tamayo who old timers will remember when he wore a Brownsville Police Department uniform walking the beat. He was a common sight when Brownsville was small enough that the local cops could easily recognize the good, the bad and the ugly of our city.
Tamayo graduated from St. Joseph Academy and as a proud American, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. and served as a lieutenant of the BPD where he from where he retired after 30 years of active service. He was also a member and post commander of the John Hanson American Legion Post 43 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2035.
When he died in 2006 at 74, the city lost a long time retired police officer. But what many people do not know about Tamayo is that he had another passion.
When not swinging a police baton, he swung a baseball bat as a coach for the local American Legion baseball team from the 1950s up until the mid 1960s.
American Legion baseball can be traced to the summer of 1928 and perhaps earlier. Although Pat did not know it at the time, there were decades of coaches that came before him—but you can rest assured, none dedicated than he. As his former players can attest, he loved baseball.
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His passion for being a peace officer overlapped to being a baseball coach with no noticeable departure. His dedication for the game was immeasurable.
In 1928, the local ALAC (American Legion Amateur Club) inaugurated a new diamond located just off the newly paved section of Jefferson Street at Palm Courts. It was here that city kids of then gathered to play America’s pastime.
It was at the “36” Diamond, on West St. Francis St., more than 70 years later, that Pat Tamayo, Marcelo Mann and Gus Vano continued the tradition of keeping American Legion baseball alive.
Pat Tamayo was a Korean War Veteran, an officer of the law and mentor to all of us us kids who were touched by his influence: he kept us on the diamond and out of the court room.
He gave his time, energy and commitment to this community, both as a police officer and coach. His mentoring within the diamond was always delivered with a spirit of encouragement.
But if our behavior deviated from the spirit of the game e could settle issues of disrespect, and cultivate peace by simply changing his tone of voice. For those of us that shared the dugout with him – we are so much better for it.
When not swinging a police baton, he swung a baseball bat as a coach for the local American Legion baseball team from the 1950s up until the mid 1960s.
American Legion baseball can be traced to the summer of 1928 and perhaps earlier. Although Pat did not know it at the time, there were decades of coaches that came before him—but you can rest assured, none dedicated than he. As his former players can attest, he loved baseball.
(At top right, Tamayo with Jack Compton, Billy Talianicich and a skinny Eddie Gonzalez.)
His passion for being a peace officer overlapped to being a baseball coach with no noticeable departure. His dedication for the game was immeasurable. In 1928, the local ALAC (American Legion Amateur Club) inaugurated a new diamond located just off the newly paved section of Jefferson Street at Palm Courts. It was here that city kids of then gathered to play America’s pastime.
It was at the “36” Diamond, on West St. Francis St., more than 70 years later, that Pat Tamayo, Marcelo Mann and Gus Vano continued the tradition of keeping American Legion baseball alive.
Pat Tamayo was a Korean War Veteran, an officer of the law and mentor to all of us us kids who were touched by his influence: he kept us on the diamond and out of the court room.
He gave his time, energy and commitment to this community, both as a police officer and coach. His mentoring within the diamond was always delivered with a spirit of encouragement.
But if our behavior deviated from the spirit of the game e could settle issues of disrespect, and cultivate peace by simply changing his tone of voice. For those of us that shared the dugout with him – we are so much better for it.