Beeville native on a mission to preserve town’s sports legacy

George Benavides never imagined a project to preserve memories for his own family would lead to a sprawling collection of sports history spanning decades. What began as a personal endeavor to collect his own sports photos has evolved into an extensive archive of team photos from Beeville, Skidmore, Tynan, Pettus, and nearby areas. Benavides is still seeking more pictures, reaching out to the community to contribute to his growing collection of baseball, softball, and other sports memorabilia.

“It all started because I wanted to make a book for my kids, showcasing their sports memories,” Benavides told the Beeville Bee-Picayune. “My daughter played nearly every sport, and my son was into golf and baseball. When I finished that, I realized I had no book of my own photos, even though I’d played every sport Beeville had to offer.”

Benavides initially reached out to friends and teammates, hoping to recover his own memories. But the response was far greater than anticipated. Friends and fellow athletes shared not only photos of him, but also of others they’d played alongside. Soon, people were calling Benavides to offer up their own pictures, and his project quickly expanded beyond personal mementos.

“It just kind of took on a life of its own,” Benavides said. “People started saying, ‘I heard you’re putting together a book,’ and I’d tell them, ‘I’m just trying to find my own photos.’ But people started sending me pictures, even from rival leagues. And before I knew it, I was collecting for everyone.”

His interest in genealogy and his background in criminology further fueled his passion for the project, as he found himself researching the history behind each photo. He dug deep into the history of Beeville’s Little League teams, local players who went pro, and the legacy of longstanding sports programs.

“I’ve been doing genealogy since 1975, and that’s helped me trace the history of sports in Beeville,” Benavides said. “I want to know not just who was in the photo but the stories behind each team and season.”

Pictured above is a photo of a Bee County Women's baseball team from the 1940s. The only known player is Maria Moa Cano (second from left).

The project has reconnected him with old friends and sparked memories of his younger days. Many locals have been eager to share their photos, although some still search for theirs, not always sure where they’ve been stored over the years.

“People say, ‘I wish I had a picture; it might be in the attic or a shoebox,’” Benavides said. “Sometimes I have to reach out several times, and some might be a little annoyed by my persistence, but others, like my friend Bill Baker, tell me, ‘Don’t give up on me.’ And I won’t — that’s how important these memories are.”

The project’s rapid growth has brought modern challenges. Benavides noted that many people now store photos on their phones or in cloud storage, which makes it hard for others to view or access these images in the future.

“I like to have a tangible copy in my hands. My daughter says, ‘Just keep it digital,’ but I want the photo, the paper — I want to feel it. You don’t get that with just a file in the cloud.”

Retired and with time to focus on this labor of love, Benavides has considered compiling the photos into a book — or perhaps several books — for each team or era. His ultimate goal, he says, is to preserve these memories before they’re lost.

“It’s not just for me; it’s for future generations,” he said. “Maybe they don’t realize the value now, but in 20 or 30 years, they’ll want to look back on these moments.”

For now, Benavides is still hunting for more team photos and invites anyone with images to contact him. Whether they have digital copies or need help scanning originals, he’s willing to assist.

“I come down to Beeville regularly,” he said. “If someone has a photo they want to share, I’ll go to Walgreens or wherever to make a copy. It’s worth it to preserve these memories.”

For Benavides, the journey will continue “until the well runs dry.

“Whenever I feel like I’ve exhausted every lead, then maybe I’ll turn it into something permanent,” Benavides. “But for now, I’m just grateful for every photo and story I find, and I’m honored to share in the legacy of sports in Beeville.”