Spring Break
In Memorium
Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: Perspectives
In a bar that I owned in Downtown El Paso, Don Haskins once walked in to enjoy a cold beer. Sitting at the end of the bar we're two Anglo men having a cold one as well. Minutes after sitting at the bar, one of the Anglo men asked Don Haskins what prompted him to have started five N****** (N word) during the national championship game.
Don never looked up at them or gave them an answer. He drank his beer in one swallow, threw a couple of bucks on the bar and started to walk out. He suddenly stopped at the door and turned back towards those two guys. He walked over to the loud mouth and threw a heck of a right-handed punch knocking him to the ground. He looked up at the other guy, smiled and walked out without ever saying a word.
His actions were much louder than words, but his message was loud and clear. This man stood up for what he believed in; even though sometimes he stood alone. El Paso lost its most famous and favorite son and he will be missed and mourned by many. Our loss is Heaven's gain!
Rocky Ontiveros,
attended UTEP.
My condolences to the Haskins' and UTEP families. Even though recognition came much later than he wanted to, Coach Haskins and the '65-'66 Miners changed the face of college basketball, as well as caused the establishment to stand up and take notice. God bless you all.
Jeff Gray.
Rarely does someone like Don Haskins come along to change the course of human events. You might think he only did this on the basketball court, but his influence and inspiration was felt everywhere around UTEP, El Paso, Texas, and the U.S. Rest in peace. You will be missed.
Rene Najera,
UTEP 2000 Alum.
As a proud graduate of UTEP class of 1988, there will never be another quite like THE BEAR...1,000's of El Pasoans have a unique anecdote of Don Haskins. He will always live in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. He touched so many and lived a great life. I aspire to do the same. It is said that, " a true measurement of a person is measured by the numbers that celebrate his/her life at the time of his/her passing." I wish I could make his memorial. God bless you Don Haskins and God bless all who were touched by him.
E. Ray Rodriguez,
UTEP Alum, 1988.
My friends and I in the TWC class of 1966 were not aware that our team was different from other NCAA teams. In the first place, most of our competition was in the West, not the South. It was only when I saw at the beginning of that historic game that the teams didn't need uniforms to tell our Miners from our opponents that I began to think about the race issue. Being in the epicenter of nowhere, El Paso has always dealt with her unique problems in her unique way. God bless Coach Haskins and be with his family and friends in this time of mourning. He will be missed in proportion to the great amount he was loved. Happy trails, Bear.
Dana Shuster.
TWC alum, 1966 UTEP and El Paso has lost a wonderful adopted son. The "Bear" made history and didn't even know it when he did. I think that history is indebted to him for how he opened up sports to black atheletes. All he did was give them a chance and that is all they needed to prove their worth. It is a sad day for El Paso and a sad day for all of us Miners. You won't be forgotten by us.
Elizabeth Speed,
UTEP M.Ed, 2008.
I was saddened to hear of the passing of THE BEAR. He was an inspiration to all of us at UTEP and in El Paso. I was not even born when the events in 1966 happened but I really grew to love the man. I wish his family peace in this difficult time.
Edward Hall,
UTEP student.
Don never looked up at them or gave them an answer. He drank his beer in one swallow, threw a couple of bucks on the bar and started to walk out. He suddenly stopped at the door and turned back towards those two guys. He walked over to the loud mouth and threw a heck of a right-handed punch knocking him to the ground. He looked up at the other guy, smiled and walked out without ever saying a word.
His actions were much louder than words, but his message was loud and clear. This man stood up for what he believed in; even though sometimes he stood alone. El Paso lost its most famous and favorite son and he will be missed and mourned by many. Our loss is Heaven's gain!
Rocky Ontiveros,
attended UTEP.
My condolences to the Haskins' and UTEP families. Even though recognition came much later than he wanted to, Coach Haskins and the '65-'66 Miners changed the face of college basketball, as well as caused the establishment to stand up and take notice. God bless you all.
Jeff Gray.
Rarely does someone like Don Haskins come along to change the course of human events. You might think he only did this on the basketball court, but his influence and inspiration was felt everywhere around UTEP, El Paso, Texas, and the U.S. Rest in peace. You will be missed.
Rene Najera,
UTEP 2000 Alum.
As a proud graduate of UTEP class of 1988, there will never be another quite like THE BEAR...1,000's of El Pasoans have a unique anecdote of Don Haskins. He will always live in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. He touched so many and lived a great life. I aspire to do the same. It is said that, " a true measurement of a person is measured by the numbers that celebrate his/her life at the time of his/her passing." I wish I could make his memorial. God bless you Don Haskins and God bless all who were touched by him.
E. Ray Rodriguez,
UTEP Alum, 1988.
My friends and I in the TWC class of 1966 were not aware that our team was different from other NCAA teams. In the first place, most of our competition was in the West, not the South. It was only when I saw at the beginning of that historic game that the teams didn't need uniforms to tell our Miners from our opponents that I began to think about the race issue. Being in the epicenter of nowhere, El Paso has always dealt with her unique problems in her unique way. God bless Coach Haskins and be with his family and friends in this time of mourning. He will be missed in proportion to the great amount he was loved. Happy trails, Bear.
Dana Shuster.
TWC alum, 1966 UTEP and El Paso has lost a wonderful adopted son. The "Bear" made history and didn't even know it when he did. I think that history is indebted to him for how he opened up sports to black atheletes. All he did was give them a chance and that is all they needed to prove their worth. It is a sad day for El Paso and a sad day for all of us Miners. You won't be forgotten by us.
Elizabeth Speed,
UTEP M.Ed, 2008.
I was saddened to hear of the passing of THE BEAR. He was an inspiration to all of us at UTEP and in El Paso. I was not even born when the events in 1966 happened but I really grew to love the man. I wish his family peace in this difficult time.
Edward Hall,
UTEP student.
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