100 Years Strong: A South Texas vaquero celebrates a century of tradition

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — One of the last living traditional South Texas vaqueros is celebrating a major milestone this weekend—his 100th birthday. 

Erasmo Guerrero has lived a life built on hard work, family, and faith. He’s celebrating not only 100-years-old but his deep roots in vaquero history — a way of life that helped shape South Texas. His story is one of legacy and it’s still being passed down today.

“Well we gathered the cows, marked them, bathed them. We did all the work,” Erasmo said.

At 100, he is the oldest living vaquero in South Texas. 

“I worked with all the ranchers in the county, but there none of them are alive anymore. I’m the only one now,” Erasmo said.

Vaqueros played a critical role in the region and for Erasmo, that tradition never stopped.  HIs daughter Nelda said two of his sons followed in his footsteps

“My older brother, Servando and my third brother Ramiro,” Nelda said. “My brother Ramiro still does, he works at ranches and he rides horses and does the cattle. He really loves that.”

Nelda said her dad is still passing that legacy down today. 

“The stories of of how, where he worked at the ranches and what he did – because to me, it’s like a lesson for the younger generation,” Nelda said. “And I really like that he tells my nieces, my nephews’ stories because they’re very good stories.”

Stories that his oldest granddaughter Connie will always cherish. 

“We’ll be traveling down 359 towards Laredo and we’d come through this ranch that he would work at and I don’t remember the name but the story he always says is I used to work there herding cattle, and I had a brown hat. It blew off. I wonder if somebody ever found that hat, and every time we go through there it’s the same story,” Connie said.

Now he’s celebrating a century of life. The Hebbronville community gathered to honor Erasmo with a special mass and party. Connie said it’s because of the impact he’s made.

“Every Sunday he finds a $20 bill on his door in his truck and he takes it. I mean it’s faithfully, every Sunday. So whoever that Good Samaritan is, thank them. Thank you so much for that. It helps him. He says he goes and gets his coffee or, you know, a donut or whatever and he has everything he needs, but it’s a little token of appreciation that he gets weekly. Until this day, we don’t know who’s doing that,” Connie said. 

And the celebration doesn’t stop there. Jim Hogg County Judge Juan Carlos Guerra is working to preserve vaquero history with a special memorial.

“I’m very grateful that the judge is doing that for the vaqueros because they do deserve to be recognized, all of the vaqueros, because there was a lot of good vaqueros here in Jim Hogg County, and I’m proud that my dad is one of them,” Nelda said.

What’s Erasmo’s secret? Nelda said it’s simple. 

“I just think he keeps moving honestly, he cuts grass, he does things around the yard, he fixes his tractor… So basically to me, that’s what it is. He just keeps active,” Nelda said.

Erasmo’s granddaughter, Veronica said he even drives.

“He’s still driving that white truck, so he’s like everywhere, sometimes people would send me a video or a screenshot.  Look, I see your grandpa here like he’s in Zapata or he’s just always everywhere,” Veronica said. “So we’re thankful that he’s always active and it’s a blessing that he’s still driving, I don’t know anybody that drives to that age.”

Connie said her family has learned a lot from her grandfather. 

“He’s a Guerrero. He’s a warrior, and he doesn’t give up. And I believe we all take…in some way after him because we’re all very hardworking and we don’t give up. We keep going and that’s the way we all are,” Connie said. 

Married to his wife Guadalupe for 72 years, surrounded by six children and four generations of family, Erasmo said he’s thankful for a life well lived. 

“I’m happy. It’s good that God gave me this life,” Erasmo said. 

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