Buryl Baty was a winning athlete, coach, builder of men, and an early pioneer in the fight against bigotry. In 1950, after serving in the second world war and then quarterbacking the Texas Aggies during the glory days of the old Southwest Conference, Baty became head football coach at Bowie High School in El Paso. He quickly inspired his athletes, all Mexican Americans from the south side ghetto, the Segundo Barrio, with his winning ways and his personal stand against the era’s extreme, deep-seated prejudice—to which they were subjected.

However, just as the team was poised to win a third championship, they were jolted by an unthinkable tragedy that turned their world upside down. Later, these matured former players realized how Coach Baty had influenced them to be worthy and successful men, and dedicated their high school stadium in his name. After another few years, Baty was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame.