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The First Gala Organized By Fox Tech And Sidney Lanier Alumni And Held On November 6, 2010 Was Named The Chili Bowl Gala. In The Spring Of 2011, The Name Was Changed to The Chile Bowl Gala (the i was changed to an e). Except For The Name Change, Everything Else Remains The Same - Scholarships For Current Fox Tech And Sidney Lanier Students. Please Visit The New Site At www.ChileBowl.org.
The Chili Bowl History
Well, if you attended any of the San Antonio (Texas) Independent School District Schools (SAISD), you know the Chili Bowl's history. If you weren't fortunate enough to attend one of these schools, read on and discover the unique experiences of Fox Tech High School and Sidney Lanier High School Alumni.
The Chili Bowl is perhaps one of San Antonio's oldest traditions experienced by several family generations attending either Fox Tech or Sidney Lanier. The tradition itself was an annual football game played at the famous Alamo Stadium located in San Antonio, Texas, near the Brackenridge Park and Trinity University. In fact, this is a tradition that endured from September 1942 through November 2009, for a total of 67 years. It was a sad day for current students and alumni from both schools when it was announced that the Chili Bowl tradition would finally come to an end.
Although the focus was on the football game itself, several activities before and after the game were a solid part of the Chili Bowl experience. For example, students from their respective school celebrated with spirited Pep Rallies in a homecoming/color day setting. Students always attempted to deface the other school with "appropriate" colors. Of course both student bodies respected each other to the point of carrying out these activities with enormous pride and enthusiam and without any permanent damage to school or personal property.
And of course, there were always the after-the-game events such as cruising the downtown streets of San Antonio and eventually meeting up at the Malt House, the Pig Stand, Jim's, and countless other venues. These were fantastic scenes. Lanier students proudly showing their blue and white while Tech students were waving their red and white. Students always dressed in their colors and their automobiles were equally decorated. Cheers, yells, and cars honking added to the spirited Chili Bowl rivalry. No other SAISD high school activity compared to this rivalry.
And then there was the football game itself. Even when both teams had losing seasons, the Alamo Stadium could always anticipate its largest attendance of the season. It wasn't unusual to see attendance just short of 20,000 at this annual event. The Bands, Pep Squads, Cheerleaders, ROTC members, Faculty, and student bodies were fired up and always looked forward with much anticipation to this annual football game. Win or Lose, each school always claimed some victory over the other.
That my friends is a brief summary of the Chili Bowl tradition.
NEW Chili Bowl Spirit
Although, the Chili Bowl Football Game tradition has ended, the Chili Bowl Spirit continues. That’s right! While the game is history, many who graduated from both Fox Tech and Sidney Lanier simply will NOT let go of the Chili Bowl Spirit.
The game's demise has create other opportunities that will serve the tradition as well. Almost in unison, many former students from both schools stepped up and decided that the tradition should be kept alive even without the game. Needless to say, the tradition would have to take a different form. Being the spirited alumni that we are, the tradition will continue for years to come with a totally different emphasis.
While the Chili Bowl tradition from 1942 through 2009 was a football game rivalry, the NEW emphasis behind the Chili Bowl Spirit is one of Unity and Support to current enrolled students at both schools by awarding scholarships to deserving students. With this in mind, the first event for this NEW tradition has given birth to the Chili Bowl Gala.
What Is The Chili Bowl Gala?
The visionaries behind the Chili Bowl Gala are Dr. Joe Bernal (Lanier) and Dr. Carlos Raul Orozco (Fox Tech). Neither of these gentlemen are strangers to civic contributions. Dr. Orozco is the current Chairman of the Advisory Committee For The Central City Health Career High School at Fox Tech. Dr. Bernal also serves as a member of the committee.
Recently Dr. Bernal and Dr. Orozco dreamed up this Chili Bowl Gala and surprisingly, they found an enormous swell of community support. Alumni from both schools are participating on the Chili Bowl Gala committee and, corporate sponsors and supporters are also showing an early support for the Chili Bowl Gala event.
This gala was conceived to provide support to students at both Lanier and Fox Tech in the form of scholarships. Proceeds from the gala will go towards these scholarships. Support will also be provided to the Health Careers program at Fox Tech.
Both co-chairs have emphasized that San Antonio as well as our nation is in a healthcare crisis. There is a shortage of healthcare professionals to include medical doctors, nurses, lab technicians, X-Ray technicians, and physical therapists. With this in mind, The San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and the University Health System recently teamed together to help address this crisis. Through their efforts, along with several concerned members of the community, the Central City Health Careers High School has been created at Fox Tech High School, which opened in the Fall semester of 2010. Its hub location and proximity to several hospitals, colleges and universities will provide a unique educational opportunity for students not only from SAISD but the entire Bexar County area. It will use the newest technology and approaches (e.g. project-based learning and robotics) to teach the “internet-oriented” student of today.
What does the Chili Bowl Gala offer? The First Chili Bowl Gala will be held on November 6, 2010 at the Joe Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall. This Gala will include a Dinner, Dance, and Silent Auction. The event will also honor two well known and distinguished alumni, Lionel Sosa (Lanier) and Jesse Trevino (Fox Tech). Dr. Joe Bernal and Dr. Ricardo Romo, President, The University of Texas at San Antonio, will serve as event Emcees.
What Can You Do?
SPONSORS: You are invited to support this scholarship endeavor by participating as an ORO (GOLD) $5,000, PLATA (SILVER) $2,500, or BROWN (BRONZE) $1,000 SPONSOR. If a sponsorship is not in your plans, any and all donations will be accepted. Please make your check payable to: SAISD Foundation and mail to SAISD Foundation, Attention: Rose L. Garcia, P.O. Box 780261, San Antonio, Texas 78278. The SAISD Foundation is a 501(c)3 entity. Your donations are tax deductible.
INDIVIDUALS: You can also support this event by purchasing your Chili Bowl Gala individual tickets. These tickets promise to become “Hot Items.” The cost is $30.00 per person or $300 for a reserved table (seating is 10 persons). The ticket price includes a fabulous meal and music by Ruben Ramos and The Texas Revolution. There will be a cash bar (Beer, sodas, water, and set-ups (BYOB)). For your bidding pleasure a silent auction will take place. Doors will open at 5:30 pm. Free parking is provided at Joe Freeman Coliseum Exposition Hall, 3201 E. Houston Street.
Please view our Chili Bowl Gala Invitation To Sponsors Letter by clicking here, visit the Event Sponsor RSVP Form by clicking here and to view the Chili Bowl Gala Floor Layout click here. These form can be printed.
To purchase your individual tickets or reserve a table (seating is 10 persons per) make your check payable to: SAISD Foundation.
The Hall will be divided into three sections. As you face the stage, the left side is designated to the Lanierites and their guests, sponsors will be seated center to the stage, and Techites and their guests will be to seated to the right of the stage. Click Here to view Gala Venue Layout.
Ticket Information (Seating is on a first come first served basis):
For seating on the Lanier Side contact Yolanda (210) 884-9034 or Frances (210) 337-4337.
For seating on the Tech side , send your check or money order to Olga Perez, 10427 Summerstone, San Antonio, Texas 78254 . If you need to contact Olga, she can be reached at (210) 273-8304 or by email at olga6464@sbcglobal.net.
An Organization Keeping The Chili Bowl Spirit Alive....Join Us 