Former Educator and Community Leader Roberto “Beto” M. Olivares Passes Away at Age 72

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2019

Many Eagle Passans were saddened with the news that former local educator and community leader Roberto “Beto” M. Olivares passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at his home in Georgetown, Texas surrounded by his family. 

Olivares was born on July 25, 1946 to Adolfo Olivares, Sr. and wife, Angela M. Olivares, as the second oldest of five children and grew up in a loving and close-knit family in Eagle Pass, Texas.  

Olivares attended local public schools and graduated from Eagle Pass High School in 1965 and joined the United States Air Force on August 4, 1965.  Upon returning from military service, Olivares attended college and obtained a Bachelor’s degree. 

Olivares worked as a History teacher, assistant principal, and principal for over 30 years with the Eagle Pass Independent School District. He also worked as a Migrant Youth Coordinator and Human Resources Director for the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and its enterprise, Kickap00 Lucky Eagle Casino.  

Olivares and his brother, Adolfo “Fito” Olivares, Jr. founded the Eagle Pass Striders Track and Field Program in Eagle Pass, Texas during the early 1980s to allow local youths to participate in highly competitive athletic events regionally, state-wide, and nationally during their summer months while learning and developing important leadership and personal traits in life.  Many local youths went on to win national track and field championships and developed into young leaders in the community.

During his retirement, Olivares enjoyed spending time with his wife, Linda Sumpter Olivares, children, grandchildren, doing genealogical and historical research, walking, gardening, and visiting family and friends.  He spent three years researching  his Cherokee Native American Indian lineage to the late 1700s, an endeavor that he loved and cherished doing while establishing a historic family legacy.  He was accepted into the Cherokee Nation of Sequoyah, a moment he was deeply proud of and passed on to his family.  He was given the Cherokee name of V(ga) Tavi Unelaga, which translates as “Teacher of Knowledge,” a true testament of his family heritage and personal character.  

Olivares is survived by his wife of many years, Linda Sumpter Olivares, his son Victor, daughters Tessa and Andrea, daughter-in-law Susan, and son-in-law Joel Brandenburg. He was also survived by his granddaughters, Katia, Sophia, and Emma. Also surviving him are his brothers, Adolfo Olivares, Jr. and Jesus M. Olivares, sister Margarita O. Rodriguez, sister-in-law Diana, and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. 

Olivares is preceded in death by his parents, Adolfo Olivares, Sr. and Angela M. Olivares, his brother Rolando Olivares, nephew Rolando Olivares, Jr., and niece Veronica Rodriguez.

Church services for Roberto “Beto” M. Olivares will be held at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Georgetown, Texas on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 1:30 P.M.

The Olivares family wishes to thank everyone for their love, thoughts, and prayers for their dearly beloved brother, Roberto “Beto” M.  Olivares.  

Romans 6:4 “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Native American Proverb: “We wil be known forever by the tracks we leave.”