Galvan leaves a lasting impression in passing

By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS

For years, Peter Galvan was one of the most notable figures in Greyhound sports.

A former star Greyhound athlete himself, Galvan became a staple at just about every major Greyhound athletic event from football to softball and everything in between. Unfortunately, after a long and reoccurring battle with cancer, this coming football season will be the first in over 60 years where Galvan won’t be in the stands cheering on his beloved Greyhounds.

A 1970 San Benito High graduate, Galvan became a die-hard Greyhound fan when he was only nine years old. The historic 1961 football team advancing to the state semi-finals cemented Galvan’s fandom while Jim Helms led the ’Hounds into the hearts of all San Benitians.

After graduating, Galvan followed his future wife, Debbie Tanamachi Galvan, to Colorado- riding his motorcycle the entire 1,200-mile trip to Boulder.

“It was really a crazy thing to do because we didn’t even date in high school,” said Debbie Galvan. “We didn’t have our first date until one of the last days of school and then I left to college in Colorado about two weeks later. It was so crazy, but that’s the kind of man Peter was – so determined and so stubborn in the best way possible.”

After getting married, Peter Galvan took a job with CPL (which later became AEP) and the Galvan’s started their family. Despite neither of children attending SBHS, the Galvans still attended nearly every football, basketball and softball game while Peter’s iconic purple Harley Davidson became a symbol of pride at parades and home games alike.

In 2006, the Galvan’s had their life turned upside down when Peter Galvan was diagnosed with cancer on his tonsils. He immediately went into treatment, following every stipulation doctor gave him. After a hard-fought battle, Peter Galvan’s cancer went into remission, and he was able to return to work. Through all the doctor visits and treatments, his love for the Greyhounds never faltered.

“Towards the end, he could only be fed through a tube in his stomach, and he would be doing the procedure himself in the car because he didn’t want to be late to a softball game or a basketball game,” recalled Debbie. “Greyhound athletics were such a huge part of our lives and that didn’t change even when his health was hanging on by a thread.”

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