Valley Pioneer Marks 100 Years

Judge Arturo Salas honors his Mother

Judge Arturo Salas and his family honored his mother, Maria Rendon Salas, with a well-attended 100th birthday celebration given for her last month at the American Legion Hall in La Feria. Her life, spanning the past 10 decades, reflects the history of the growth of the Valley and South Texas. She saw it all; beginning with her life as young girl on the Los Olmales ranch where she was born to the fast pace of today’s modern Rio Grande Valley
Over 100 people attended and shared in the celebration. La Feria Mayor Steve Brewer praised Maria as an example and model for others. County Commissioner Dan Sanchez and City Commissioner Lori Weaver attended and spoke about her life, and congratulated her on her life’s work.

The 20-acres Olmales ranch was where it all began. She was born on November 26, 1913 to a pioneer family by the name of Lorenzo Rendon and Cleth Sanchez. It was located in the Briggs-Coleman area. That little patch of Texas provided everything the family needed in those days.

There on the ranch, they planted corn, beans, and other vegetables. They fattened pigs and calves to eat and sell to the public. She recalled that they sold the pigs for around 4 dollars and the calves for as much as 10 dollars.

“Life was hard back then for they had no machinery,” she said. “All the work was done by hand. The men in my family used mules and horses hitched to plows and cultivators to till the soil. I can tell you those rugged men and draft animals really worked. And they would be astonished to see tractor drivers today sitting in air-conditioned comfort listening to CD music.”

Maria and her six sisters grew up during that time. Two of her sisters are still living today: They are Isabel Castillo and Juanita Salas–now both in their mid 90s.

The Great Depression was in full bloom in the 1930s. It was during this tough time that she met the man who was to be her husband. He was Cecilio Salas. They were married in 1932 and moved to Harlingen. It was in Harlingen where they had their one and only child. That child grew up to be the Judge Arturo Salas, whose name is on the Cameron

County Annex in La Feria.

Judge Salas commented about growing up as an only child. “I had lots of kids to play with because my mother only had one child (me), so she helped her sisters raise their families–we were always doing something together,” he recalled.

“My parents were good parents,” he related. “My father was strict and kept short reins on me–I didn’t get to stray very far. He taught me to respect my parents and elders.” he fondly remembers.

Maria also likes to talk about her extended family: She has five grandchildren: Arturo, Jr. (McAllen); Albert (La Feria); Ariel (San Antonio); Adrianna (San Antonio); Adrian (La Feria). Five Great-grandkids: Dustin, Aleiah, Aeson, Ariel, Jr., and Adriannita.

Sadly, her husband passed away in 1993. Later, in 1997, she moved to the Buena Vida Apartments in La Feria, where she lives to this day and continues to enjoy her life.

Her son said his mother enjoys doing things often with her family and her circle of friends.

“She watches what she eats, and that is probably what accounts for her long life,” he said.

“We are all wishing her many more years to come.”