Hooked on Hounds – Peter Galvan

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

There are certain things you just don’t mess with. You don’t mess with Texas; you don’t mess with a man’s motorcycle, and you definitely don’t mess with the Greyhounds.

Sixty-one year-old Peter Galvan, a 1970 graduate of San Benito High School, is well aware of these fundamental rules which arguably govern any self-respecting manly-man’s life – at least those who reside in the Resaca City, anyway.

But Peter also has the luxury of being in possession of all three of these don’t-mess-with items. As a San Benito native, he’s a proud Texan, he’s the even prouder owner of a 2003 Harley Davidson Full Dresser and – perhaps most importantly – he’s an avid fan of the San Benito Greyhounds.

Yep. Peter’s the man.

In this week’s Hooked on ’Hounds, Peter takes us on a live to cheer, cheer to live ride on the Greyhound wild side. And who better to take us on such a ride than a man who has customized his Harley with Greyhound decor. What else would you expect from a man who’s been a fan of the purple and gold for 52 years?

It all started for Peter when he was 9-years-old. That’s when he went to his first football game and became hooked. Then came the magical season of 1961, when the ’Hounds made it all the way to the semifinals and Jim Helms rushed into the hearts of San Benitians.

“They were my role models,” Peter said of the ’61 team, adding that he played a little football himself, at least until his sophomore year of 1967. That season, the ’Hounds beat Harlingen, 7-0.

Fast forward to 2003, when Peter and wife Debbie Tanamachi Galvan began shopping for a motorcycle. You see, the two used to ride when they were younger but had to give it up when raising their children, Kristopher Galvan and Jessica Galvan Kaiser. Now that their kids are all grown up, it was time to look for the perfect bike.

Peter didn’t have to do much looking.

“I went to a Harley Davidson store, and my wife knows that’s my favorite color,” Peter said of the purple Harley that would eventually become his. “I knew we were going to buy it. Then I got the windshield engraved, saying ‘San Benito Greyhounds’ with the running Greyhound logo.”

Thus far, Peter has invested at least $6,000 in customizations on a bike he paid $28,000 for, but the end result has been worth it. He’s recently added a new paint job and even newer decals that grace the bike with the latest version of the Greyhound logo.

“I really went all out,” Peter said, and he wasn’t kidding.

News: What makes you such a big Greyhound fan?

Peter: I do it for the kids. I try to support them win or lose. There are a lot of parents that don’t go to the games to support their kids, and they should. I think they really should.

News: What is it that you love most about the Greyhounds?

Peter: I love the school colors – purple and gold. The new uniforms they got this year are awesome. Nike did a really great job.

News: Do you have a favorite year in Greyhound athletics?

Peter: It has to be 1961. That’s my favorite year, when the football team went to the semifinals and almost made it to state.

News: How would you rate fans from that era (1961) to today?

Peter: They’re way more fanatic now (laughs). There are a lot of us that really love the games, it doesn’t matter what sport it is…football, softball, track or for instance cross country. I remember when the cross country coach, Danny De La Rosa, won state back when he was a student in 1998, I think.

News: Do you have a certain ritual for observing football Friday nights at home games?

Peter: Now, I do tailgating parties at every home game. I buy maybe $200 worth of food. I have fajitas, chicken, beef, pork, sausage and pico de gallo. It’s all free, even the sodas and water. You guys should come check it out. We usually have it from 4-7 p.m. right across the street from Bobby Morrow Stadium. For Homecoming, we’re having a big one. I get out there at 2:30 p.m. and start the fire, start cooking.

Editor’s Note: Before the end of the year, fans featured in Hooked on ’Hounds will be rounded up. You can vote on your favorites to participate in the First Annual San Benito News Hooked on ’Hounds competition. To recommend a fan to feature, email editor@sbnewspaper.com.