Eagle Pass Parks & Recreation Department Specialist Francisco Ramirez Retires After 14 Years of Service

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

Eagle Pass Parks and Recreation Department Specialist Francisco Ramirez was honored by the Eagle Pass City Council upon his retirement from the City of Eagle Pass after 14 years of dedicated service to the community at their August 1, 2017 regular meeting.

Francisco Ramirez is best known for a successful career as an Umpire in baseball and softball circles in Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.  His love for the sport of baseball led him to play for his Technical School No. 5 Baseball Team, but one day the Umpire did not show up to a game and he volunteered to become the Umpire, a decision that would lead him to a 40 year career as an Umpire.

Ramirez became a professional baseball Umpire during the 1990s in the Liga del Norte de Coahuila in Mexico.  He quickly earned a reputation for being a fair and ethical Umpire among professional baseball players.

In 1998, Ramirez joined the Eagle Pass Parks and Recreation Department as a part-time employee doing what he liked best, umpiring youth and adult baseball and softball leagues and games sponsored by the City of Eagle Pass. His dedication led him to being offered full-time employment with the City of Eagle Pass Parks and Recreation Department in 2003.  He became a certified Park and Recreation Specialist in 2003 and served the citizens of Eagle Pass in that position until July 1, 2017, fulfilling 14 years of full-time employment with the City of Eagle Pass.

Francisco Ramirez was presented a gift from the City of Eagle Pass by Mayor Ramsey English Cantu, a gift from the Parks and Recreation Department, and a wallet from the City Administration.

Ramirez thanked Mayor Cantu, the City Council, Parks and Recreation Department Director Jorge Sanchez and staff, and the citizens of Eagle Pass for allowing him to be a part of their lives and the beautiful gifts bestowed upon him at his retirement ceremony before the City Council on August 1, 2017.