Changes

[[Northwestern University]]​

[[Northwestern University]]​

  | footnotes='''Notes''': <br>

  | footnotes='''Notes''': <br>

*Sanchez turned down an offer to play [[baseball]] with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in order to attend college.<br>

*Sanchez turned down an offer to play [[baseball]] with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in order to attend college.

*In [[World War II]], Sanchez was a tailgunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress and flew thirty-five air missions over [[Germany]].​

*In [[World War II]], Sanchez was a tailgunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress and flew thirty-five air missions over [[Germany]].​

}} ​

}} ​

==Background==

==Background==

Sanchez (first name pronounced CHRIS PEEN) was born to Pedro R. Sanchez (1893–1984) and Guadalupe V. Sanchez (1896–1977) in Gonzales in southeast Texas. In the era of [[segregation]], he attended a one-room school for [[Hispanic]] children. A halfback, running back, placekicker,, and punter, Sanchez was the first Mexican American to play high school [[football]] at Gonzales High School. His excellence at first base in [[baseball]] led to his drafting by the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], but he declined the offer and instead followed his mother's advice to enter college. For a time he played with the semi-professional team, the former Gonzales Apaches.<ref name=wire>"Sanchez carried LJC athletics on his shoulders," ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' March 19, 2008.</ref>​ ("Apaches" is now the name of the Gonzales High School teams.<ref>''The Gonzales Inquirer,'' December 27, 2007.</ref>

Sanchez (first name pronounced CHRIS PEEN) was born to Pedro R. Sanchez (1893–1984) and Guadalupe V. Sanchez (1896–1977) in Gonzales in southeast Texas. In the era of [[segregation]], he attended a one-room school for [[Hispanic]] children. A halfback, running back, placekicker, and punter, Sanchez was the first Mexican American to play high school [[football]] at Gonzales High School. His excellence at first base in [[baseball]] led to his drafting by the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], but he declined the offer and instead followed his mother's advice to enter college. For a time he played with the semi-professional team, the former Gonzales Apaches.<ref name=wire>"Sanchez carried LJC athletics on his shoulders," ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' March 19, 2008.</ref>​ ("Apaches" is now the name of the Gonzales High School teams).<ref>''The Gonzales Inquirer,'' December 27, 2007.</ref>

During [[World War II]], Sanchez joined the [[United States Army]] Air Corps, the forerunner of the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]. He was part of the Hell's Angels with the 303rd Bomb Group and was a tail gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. He flew thirty-five air combat missions. During the pivotal [[Battle of the Bulge]] in December 1944, he provided air relief to [[Allied]] ground troops in [[Belgium]] with two .50-caliber [[machine gun]]s.<ref name=wire/>

During [[World War II]], Sanchez joined the [[United States Army]] Air Corps, the forerunner of the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]. He was part of the Hell's Angels with the 303rd Bomb Group and was a tail gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. He flew thirty-five air combat missions. During the pivotal [[Battle of the Bulge]] in December 1944, he provided air relief to [[Allied]] ground troops in [[Belgium]] with two .50-caliber [[machine gun]]s.<ref name=wire/>

On returning from the war, Sanchez entered Texas State University in San Marcos, south of the capital city of [[Austin]], then known as Southwest Texas State Normal School. In college, Sanchez met his future wife, Dora A. Garcia (1929-2003 ). He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, and the couple moved to her hometown of [[Laredo]] in Webb County in south Texas, where Sanchez began his long career in education.<ref name=wire/>​

On returning from the war, Sanchez entered Texas State University in San Marcos, south of the capital city of [[Austin]], then known as Southwest Texas State Normal School. In college, Sanchez met his future wife, Dora A. Garcia (1929-2003 ). He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, and the couple moved to her hometown of [[Laredo]] in Webb County in south Texas, where Sanchez began his long career in education.<ref name=wire/>​

 

==Educational career==

==Educational career==

Sanchez taught sixth grade at Ryan Elementary School for the Laredo Independent School District. One of his pupils was Tony Sanchez (no relation), the Laredo business tycoon who in 2002 became the first Mexican American in state history to win the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] gubernatorial , but he was defeated by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Rick Perry]]. Sanchez recalled Tony Sanchez as "the only redheaded [boy] in my class... freckle-faced, and reminded me a lot of Tom Sawyer."<ref name=wire/>​

Sanchez taught sixth grade at Ryan Elementary School for the Laredo Independent School District. One of his pupils was Tony Sanchez (no relation), the Laredo business tycoon who in 2002 became the first Mexican American in state history to win the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] gubernatorial, but he was defeated by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Rick Perry]]. Sanchez recalled Tony Sanchez as "the only redheaded [boy] in my class... freckle-faced, and reminded me a lot of Tom Sawyer."<ref name=wire/>​

Sanchez also procured his master of education from TSU. In 1964, when the doors of J. W. Nixon High School opened in Laredo, Sanchez became the assistant principal. In the summer of 1969, he traveled to Evanston, [[Illinois]], to study toward a doctorate degree in educational administration through [[Northwestern University]]. When Sanchez returned with his [[Ph.D.]] in hand, he accepted an offer from Domingo Arechiga then the president of Laredo College, formerly known as Laredo Community College, to become the dean of student services.<ref name=wire/>​

Sanchez also procured his master of education from TSU. In 1964, when the doors of J. W. Nixon High School opened in Laredo, Sanchez became the assistant principal. In the summer of 1969, he traveled to Evanston, [[Illinois]], to study toward a doctorate degree in educational administration through [[Northwestern University]]. When Sanchez returned with his [[Ph.D.]] in hand, he accepted an offer from Domingo Arechiga then the president of Laredo College, formerly known as Laredo Community College, to become the dean of student services.<ref name=wire/>​

==College athletic director==

==College athletic director==

 

Sanchez doubled as the Laredo College athletic director and oversaw the creation of [[basketball]] (since disbanded) and baseball teams. One year LCC basketball was ranked No. 1 in the United States and the players were featured in ''Sports Illustrated'' [[magazine]], recalled Sal Otero, former sports editor of ''The Laredo Morning Times.''<ref name=wire/>​

Sanchez doubled as the Laredo College athletic director and oversaw the creation of [[basketball]] (since disbanded) and baseball teams. One year LCC basketball was ranked No. 1 in the United States and the players were featured in ''Sports Illustrated'' [[magazine]], recalled Sal Otero, former sports editor of ''The Laredo Morning Times.''<ref name=wire/>​

==Death and legacy==

==Death and legacy==

 

In 1993, Sanchez retired from LCC with twenty-three years of service. After several years of working with his son Pedro "Pete" Sanchez, he moved to San Antonio, to share in the lives of his daughters and their families. He died of a sudden illness. He was survived by five children: Sandra S. Johnson (born 1949), Pete Sanchez and wife Lydia, Irene S. Galo and husband Bradford, Hugo G. Sanchez and wife Mary, and Laura J. Sanchez. There were also thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.<ref name=wire/> He is interred in his family plot at Calvary [[Roman Catholic]] Cemetery in Laredo.<ref>Sanchez obituary, ''Laredo Morning Times,'' March 22, 2008, p. 15A.</ref>​

In 1993, Sanchez retired from LCC with twenty-three years of service. After several years of working with his son Pedro "Pete" Sanchez, he moved to San Antonio, to share in the lives of his daughters and their families. He died of a sudden illness. He was survived by five children: Sandra S. Johnson (born 1949), Pete Sanchez and wife Lydia, Irene S. Galo and husband Bradford, Hugo G. Sanchez and wife Mary, and Laura J. Sanchez. There were also thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.<ref name=wire/> He is interred in his family plot at Calvary [[Roman Catholic]] Cemetery in Laredo.<ref>Sanchez obituary, ''Laredo Morning Times,'' March 22, 2008, p. 15A.</ref>​

Laredo Community College honors Sanchez through the naming of the Crispin "Doc" Sanchez Baseball Field.<ref>[http://www.lmtonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19235109&BRD=2290&PAG=461&dept_id=473477&rfi=6 Laredo Morning Times - Pals excited to open spring schedule<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

Laredo Community College honors Sanchez through the naming of the Crispin "Doc" Sanchez Baseball Field.<ref>[http://www.lmtonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19235109&BRD=2290&PAG=461&dept_id=473477&rfi=6 Laredo Morning Times - Pals excited to open spring schedule<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

 

==References==

==References==