Eagle Pass Women’s Softball Pioneer Consuelo “Chelo” Hernandez Diaz Passes Away at Age 92
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
Eagle Passans mourn the passing of women’s softball pioneer and extraordinary citizen Consuelo “Chelo” Hernandez Diaz at the age of 92 years old on Saturday, July 11, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas.
Hernandez is known for being one of the best women’s softball players in the history of Eagle Pass, Texas and founding the first organized women’s softball league in the community during the 1960s. Hernandez was born and raised in Eagle Pass, Texas in a large family with five brothers and three sisters. Her brothers played baseball and she would enjoy playing baseball with them so much that she picked up the sport of softball and the rest is history, developing into one of the fiercest and best women’s softball players in Eagle Pass.
Hernandez worked for many years at the local Williamson Dickies garment manufacturing plant starting as a seamstress and rising to become a supervisor. She was highly respected and honored by her co-workers, both men and women, for her industriousness and concern for her fellow co-workers.
Hernandez was an avid promoter of the sport of women’s softball so much that she decided to start the first organized women’s softball league in the City of Eagle Pass in the 1960s.
The first women’s organized softball league founded by Chelo Hernandez Diaz was composed of four teams, including Williamson Dickies, Kress, JJ Newberry’s, and the Tropicanas. Women’s softball became a big hit in Eagle Pass with large public support as games drew hundreds of fans to each contest, cheering for their favorite teams. In the inaugural season of the Eagle Pass Women’s Softball League, Chelo Hernandez’s Williamson Dickies team won the league championship with Chelo serving as both the Head Coach and Player.
Eventually, the City of Eagle Pass developed a women’s softball field and appropriately named it “Chelo’s Field” in honor of the women’s softball pioneer in the community, Consuelo “Chelo” Hernandez Diaz. Chelo’s Field is part of the City of Eagle Pass’ Fort Duncan Park and continues to be used today as a women’s softball field.
In March 2002, the American Softball Association (ASA), the official softball association approved by Congress to promote men’s and women’s softball in the United States, was invited by Eagle Pass girls fastpitch softball promoter, Ricardo E. Calderon, and the City of Eagle Pass Parks and Recreation Department to attend the opening ceremony of the City’s Boys Baseball and Girls Softball Leagues.
Texas ASA President Glenn Morrison and Chief Umpire Richard Crocker recognized and honored Consuelo ‘Chelo” Hernandez Diaz for her founding and promoting women’s softball in Eagle Pass and presented her with an ASA-sanctioned softball to throw out the first official pitch of the 2002 City of Eagle Pass Boys Baseball and Girls Softball Leagues together with then Mayor Jose “Pepe” Aranda, Jr., an honor she cherished dearly.
Consuelo ‘Chelo’ Hernandez Diaz was born on January 13, 1928 in Eagle Pass, Texas to Jose Hernandez and Epifania Hernandez. She is preceded in death by her parents and five brothers Pedro (Chino) Hernandez, Jose (Chato) Hernandez, Sostenes Hernandez, Juan Hernandez, and Ceveriano (Cheve) Hernandez and three sisters Consuelo (name sake), Dolores H. Roman, and Maria Hernandez.
Hernandez went on to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 11, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas surrounded by her loved ones, including her only daughter Rosa D. Garcia and husband Richard Garcia, Sr., her grandson Richard Garcia, Jr. and wife Francisca Garcia, great grandchildren Jacob and Jaquelyn Garcia, her granddaughter Rebecca Garcia and husband Henry, and her great grandchildren Eric and Nathan Garcia. In addition, she is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten for her kindness, caring, love, laughs, and impact on the family and her community, particularly for her love of women’s softball.
