(Seguin) – Many of those in the music and entertainment industry are joining the Seguin community today as it says goodbye to Johnny “Mr. T” Trevino.
Trevino who over the years has become synonymous with the El Fiesta Ballroom died last week after losing a long battle to Parkinson’s Disease. Over the past 45 years, Trevino along with his wife Janie, have owned and operated the local dance hall on Interstate 10.
Throughout that time, the El Fiesta has hosted hundreds if not thousands of celebrities, comedians, wrestlers, and musicians all featuring various genres. Thanks to Trevino’s vision, the ballroom has also become a mecca especially for those in the Tejano music industry. In between the concerts and dances, the El Fiesta has also continued to operate as a reception hall, bingo hall, and even as a restaurant, hosting the location for The Lunch Box.
Daughter Lydia Trevino-Ruiz says the El Fiesta has always been her father’s dream.
“That’s what we want people to remember is he believed in education. He helped causes that promoted education and he was always there to sponsor sports teams for kids. He just did so much for so many people in the community and I think the biggest legacy that he could leave is that he loved the Fiesta Ballroom,” said Lydia. “He loved what it represented in the community, and he loved all the lives that it touched. So many people have been leaving messages, ‘oh, we got married there. Oh, I met my husband there.’ Forty-five years of events for a family so we literally shared in families’ lives.”
She says her father took pride in operating the El Fiesta – something she says made people come back again and again.
“I think it was that when they got here, they felt welcomed. They felt part of the family – (it wasn’t) just come and play and thank you and goodbye. You got to know us. You got to know my dad. My dad was known for always walking around, making sure that everybody was behaving, not causing any trouble, making sure everybody was safe so that’s why people came back over and over and since, we are a music venue and not a night club, you could bring family. You didn’t have to be 21years and older to enter and he always wanted to keep it that way. He was adamant, ‘no, this is a family place. Families are welcome and we are not changing.’ Yes, you can make more money doing all those better things but that’s not what he was about,” said Lydia.
Lydia says her father was a humble man who always quietly but passionately helped others follow their own dreams. She says he was the person who they will always remember as helping them getting that one foot in the door and that’s by offering them the stage at the El Fiesta.
She says it was his personality and character that always made others feel at home such as in the family’s story told about the late Selena Quintanilla.
“We talked to Mr. (Abraham) Quintanilla, Selena’s father, because she played here when she was 9-years-old. She came and played here and throughout the years and so when we talked to Mr. Quintanilla, he was saying how sorry he was and he appreciated all of the support that we gave her from the very beginning and the last time, she performed here which was in December and the next year, she got murdered. She was in the office at the end of the evening, and we were talking, and she runs in – no make-up, in sweats and she runs in and she says ‘dad, we are taking off to San Antonio. So, her and her husband and her sister and her husband were going back to San Antonio because they were staying at the Riverwalk. She says we are going ahead and leaving, and my dad says ‘wait a minute, let me shake your hand. You are never going to play here again.’ And all she said was “Why Mr. T? Why am I not going to play here again? Are you kicking me out?’ And he said, ‘no, because you are going to be a big star, so I want to shake your hand.’ And she said, ‘oh no, Mr. T don’t worry. I will be back. I’m not going to forget where I came from,’” said Lydia.
Among the other celebrities sending their heartfelt condolences to the Trevino family is Tejano sensation Little Joe of Little Joe Y La Familia. Joe says he will never forget Trevino’s friendship.
“Johnny Trevino built the Fiesta Ballroom in Seguin, Texas, one of the most popular ballrooms in Texas. We share a lot of history and I’d like to share some of it with you. The Fiesta Ballroom opened in February in 1976. I was given the honor to perform for the grand opening on Easter Sunday, April 1976. It was the first public event 45 years ago. My last performance at Fiesta Ballroom was October 2019 for my birthday and that was the last time I saw my friend Johnny Trevino. Rest in peace my amigo and enjoy the fiesta in heaven,” said Little Joe.
Now while most will remember Trevino for his success in the entertainment industry, his daughters say they will miss him for being the family man that he was and for all the good wisdom he instilled in them. Lydia says her father was simply the best.
“He would make us laugh and play practical jokes on us. He was a lot of fun and he never judged anybody. He would always tell us ‘Be kind to everybody you meet and you’ll get it back tenfold’ which we are,” said Lydia.
On top of being a good father, Lydia says Trevino was an even better husband.
“They were always kissing, kissing, kissing and the thing that struck me, is as sick as he was on his death bed, the minute my mom walked in, he opened his eyes and reached out to kiss her and I was like ‘oh, my God, he is still thinking of my mom.’”
The funeral for Trevino will be held today at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Trevino also leaves behind daughters, Barbara Trevino-Kuvet; Cynthia Trevino-Rangel; Betty Trevino-Barry and Lisa Trevino-Rudny.
Trevino was 82.