Xavier E. Perez

Xavier “Kid” Perez, 86, passed away on July 28, 2022, in Corpus Christi, TX.

He was born in Laredo, Texas, on November 7, 1935, to Juanita and Deodoro Perez. He attended St. Augustine Catholic School, Laredo Jr. College and Texas A&I in Kingsville, Texas. Basketball has always been a big part of Xavier’s life. With an early start playing basketball in elementary school, he was accomplished enough to play on the St. Augustine Varsity team as an 8th grader. When he was a senior in 1955, his team won District and was a finalist in the State Tourney. He was picked All-District three years and selected to the All-State team in his senior year. He represented Nuevo Laredo in the Tamaulipas State Tourney in 1958 and was selected to try out for the Pan American Games representing Mexico but declined to participate since he began serving in the U.S. Army in Germany. He attended sniper school and was assigned to the sports division to play basketball and baseball for two years. In 1960, he was selected to the All-Armed Services European All-Star Team. That same year, he was also invited to try-out for the U.S. Olympic Basketball team in Rome, Italy.

He later became a teacher and coach at Wynn Seale Jr. High School and the first head basketball coach at Moody High School when it first opened in 1967. His teams were known for their discipline and aggressiveness. As a coach and teacher, he encouraged a good attitude, courtesy, loyalty, punctuality, and self-confidence in his students. In 1972, Coach Perez led the Trojans to the District and Bi-District Basketball Championships. He continued his career working at Moody High School until he retired in 1998. After his retirement he couldn’t stay away from teaching and “coaching” his students, so he continued his passion at Richard Milburn Charter School until 2004.

Early in his career he was very active with politics, community service, and volunteer coaching youth sports. He was very generous often giving financial support to schools, sports teams, the PTA, Boys & Girls Club, LULAC, and those who were in need. Coach enjoyed spending time with his family, watching sports, and sitting around the kitchen table with coffee and pan dulce (or anything sweet like cookies) catching up on life with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruth Garcia Perez, his daughter Illia M. (Martin) Andrade, his son Charles E. (Lisa) Perez, his beloved grandchildren Martin A. (Angelica) Andrade Jr., Xavier Amadeo Perez, Amarilisa Mia Perez, his three great grandchildren Andrew, Adela, and Martin III, his brother Rodolfo Perez and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents Juanita & Deodoro Perez, brothers and sisters Deodoro Perez Jr., Mario Perez, Jovita Martinez, Ruben Perez, Hidalia Trevino, and Omar Perez.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 4pm-8pm and a rosary will be held at 6:30pm on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at Guardian Funeral Home, 5922 Crosstown Expressway.

The funeral mass will be on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 11:30am at Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, 3210 SPID, Corpus Christi, TX. Burial will follow at 1pm at Rose Hill Memorial Park, 2731 Comanche St.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Martin A. Andrade, Jr., Raymundo Garcia, III, Rick Godoy, Arnold Gonzales, Jr., Amarilisa Mia Perez, Xavier Amadeo Perez, Eloy Rivas, Danny Wynn.