Dick Menchaca
Encyclopedia
Richard Menchaca better known as Dick Menchaca was a two-time Golden Gloves
champion.
Dick Menchaca was born in Piedras Negras, Mexico. His family moved to Port Arthur, Texas
at ten. It was in Port Arthur that he began boxing when he was thirteen. In 1940, Menchaca became the first Texan to win the National Golden Gloves title. At 118 pounds, Menchaca was a bantamweight in the competition. Continuing his streak of firsts, he knocked out his opponent, Dick Byrd of Bloomington, Illinois
, in the first round. Menchaca successfully defended his title in 1941. He was selected to the U.S. Olympic boxing team in 1940, but the games were not held because of World War II
. Instead, Menchaca boxed in the Army
, becoming the champ of the European theatre. He also won the American Red Cross
boxing championship at England's Rainbow Corner Arena. Menchaca returned to Port Arthur following the war and began coaching boxing while working for Texaco. He worked for Texaco for 35 years. For over 45 years, in his spare time, Menchaca has coached boxers for free, using donations to buy gloves and equipment for Menchaca's Boxing Academy in Port Arthur. His students range in age from 12 to adult. Menchaca has also coached several pro fighters and a team of amateur boxers, junior and senior high school students.
Menchaca and his wife, Leola, are members of the Mexican Heritage Society, and he is a life member of the Elks.
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
champion.
Dick Menchaca was born in Piedras Negras, Mexico. His family moved to Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
at ten. It was in Port Arthur that he began boxing when he was thirteen. In 1940, Menchaca became the first Texan to win the National Golden Gloves title. At 118 pounds, Menchaca was a bantamweight in the competition. Continuing his streak of firsts, he knocked out his opponent, Dick Byrd of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, in the first round. Menchaca successfully defended his title in 1941. He was selected to the U.S. Olympic boxing team in 1940, but the games were not held because of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Instead, Menchaca boxed in the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, becoming the champ of the European theatre. He also won the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
boxing championship at England's Rainbow Corner Arena. Menchaca returned to Port Arthur following the war and began coaching boxing while working for Texaco. He worked for Texaco for 35 years. For over 45 years, in his spare time, Menchaca has coached boxers for free, using donations to buy gloves and equipment for Menchaca's Boxing Academy in Port Arthur. His students range in age from 12 to adult. Menchaca has also coached several pro fighters and a team of amateur boxers, junior and senior high school students.
Menchaca and his wife, Leola, are members of the Mexican Heritage Society, and he is a life member of the Elks.