By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
Fred Lopez was a powerlifter in life and since his passing last month, he now lifts the spirts of those who remember him through memories he left and fond thoughts of who he was.
Lopez affected many who knew him and even those who never had the opportunity of meeting a powerlifter who excelled in the sport and subsequently affected the community.
“Fred,” as he was best known to his friends, was born Alfredo Lopez, and died Nov. 13 at age 55.
For around two decades, he had a commercial driver’s license and operated trucks. At the time of his passing, Lopez was a school bus driver for the Rio Hondo Independent School District.
He made driving a career. Ironically it was his drive in the gym that landed him a solid reputation for enhancing his life both physically and spiritually.
“Fred was my first employee, running my gym in 1998,” Jesus Aguilera, owner of Chuy’s Custom Sports in San Benito, said.
At the time of his passing, Lopez worked out at Gold’s Gym in Harlingen.
According to his obituary, he served as an inspirational leader through weightlifting and the effectiveness on the body and soul.
“He loved to workout, train, and share his wisdom of the gym. In powerlifting, he had many accomplishments, he was a 13-time state champion, two-time national champion, a world champion, and holder of two state records,” his obituary read.
Joe Lozoya said Lopez channeled his life in a way that was inspiring.
“He was the strongest man I have ever known. The strongest part of this man was his heart,” Lozoya said. “He was humble, kind and thoughtful. He always was building me up never trying to knock me down. I am surely going to miss him.”
Since his passing, Lopez has been immortalized with a display that’s outside Chuy’s Custom Sports in San Benito.
“I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting him but the way you honored him is amazing,” Janie Marie Cavazos said on a Facebook post that shows his image. “Seemed like he was an awesome guy.”
According to his obituary, Lopez graduated from San Benito High School in 1987, and afterwards served his country in the U.S. Army as an armor crewman. He went on to marry Betty Jo Lopez on Feb. 20, 1993.
Besides his wife of 31 years, those who survive him are his daughter, Britney J. Lopez-Gonzales, and her husband, Daniel Gonzales, Jr. Lopez was preceded in death by his parents, Epifanio “Pepe” and Rosenda “Rosa” Lopez.
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