Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas — The Board of Trustees of the Museum of South Texas History proudly announces the 36th Annual Heritage Ranch Gala is set for Saturday, March 28, 6:30 p.m. at San Luis Ranch in Linn. The board and staff are deeply grateful to the Flores Family of Chorizo de San Manuel, Inc. for opening their ranch gates to MOSTHistory’s Heritage Associate FRIENDS and guests for a very special evening. Guests can look forward to a relaxed, but festive evening under the stars on a beautiful ranch…and to chorizo and champagne.
In 1984, a longstanding tradition began with the first Heritage Ranch Gala. The gala has become an appreciation event where the Heritage Associate FRIENDS of the year are honored for their strong commitment to the museum and its mission. It is also an occasion where the region’s ranching heritage is celebrated. Heritage Associates are a group of major donors who recognize the value in preserving history, understand there is a benefit to the regional community in doing so, and are willing to invest in MOSTHistory whose mission is to the preserve and present the borderland heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico. Their combined contributions are vital to the museum’s annual operation.
Vicky Flores and her children Luis III, Patsy de los Santos and Jaime are not strangers to the Heritage Ranch Gala. Chorizo de San Manuel, Inc. has been a longtime Heritage Associate, Patsy has served on the Board of Trustees and the family hosted the 2002 Heritage Ranch Gala at their LPJ Ranch. The San Luis Ranch was purchased in 2016 and was named in memory of their husband and father, Luis Flores, Jr. The property was once part of the Santa Anita Land Grant awarded to Don José Manuel Gómez by the King of Spain. Gómez was one of José de Escandón’s settlers of La Villa de Nuestra de Guadalupe de Reynosa founded in 1794. Gómez became a successful merchant and in 1790 began occupying and making improvements to the lands of the Santa Anita, located 50 miles north of the Río Grande. Gómez officially gained title of the almost 95,000 acre-tract in 1801.
Chorizo de San Manuel started during World War II when Adolfo “Shorty” Guerra and his brothers opened a convenience store along U.S. Highway 281. Guerra developed a tasty recipe for a Mexican-style sausage which he sold out of the store. His chorizo was very popular with locals and passersby. Some years after the store was opened, Luis Flores, Jr. worked nights and weekends at the store after he finished his day job at J.C. Penney. In 1975, the brothers decided to sell their store and offered it and the secret recipe to Flores. The Luis and Vicky Flores accepted. From the convenience store to the current 20,000 square foot plant, they have remained in San Manuel. The San Manuel natives have never forgotten from which they came.
Gala Chairman Sony Rego and her committee are planning a memorable evening on the San Luis Ranch; an evening with a “golden” touch. This year the museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary of opening its doors to the community in 1970. MOSTHistory’s Golden Partner H-E-B will be helping with some extra surprises at the gala and throughout the year.
Advanced reservations are required and can be made by calling the Development Department at the museum at 383-6911.
