History

Speak of deer contests and the Muy Grande Deer Contest always comes to mind. “The Grand-Daddy of Them All” began in 1965 in the small South Texas town of Freer located in Duval County. Founder, Leonel R. Garza, or “Muy” as most people know him, was the manager of the Center Circle Gas Station.

He was 1 of 13 children to Lazaro and Olivia Garza of Benavides, Texas. They were a migrant family who worked picking cotton in Texas and spearmint, double mint, sugar, beets, tomatoes, and cherry trees in Chicago, Missouri, Michigan and Ohio. He fondly remembers knowing which part of the “tracks” to stay on in Chicago where the Italians were on one side and the African Americans on another.

The work ethic and ambition instilled in him at a young age paid off during his many acts of generosity in the 1960’s. It wasn’t unordinary to receive at your hunting leases an unexpected visit by “Muy” with an emergency message. Such was the case when a hunter was stranded out in a pasture. “Muy,” who had already become known as “the Hunter’s Friend,” unhooked a semi tractor and drove out to get him. When the hunter offered a reward, “Muy” declined and replied back, “Just tell your buddies that I’m the hunter’s friend.” Little did “Muy” know that the hunter was actually Fred Strong, an Outdoors’ writer from Victoria. A couple of weeks later, business had backed up around the corner of the Center Circle Gas Station.

Business changed magically and new ideas began to stir in “Muy’s” head... and the concept of a deer contest was born. This was something unheard of in 1965. It started with one category, “The Widest Spread.” Homero Garza of Freer, TX. won that year. However, there was a problem. “Muy” did not have a prize. He ended up giving away his own wristwatch that he had won for selling tires.

Little did “Muy” know the Muy Grande Deer Contest would continue on for decades and would become the true pioneer of the many deer contests soon to be born after.

The Muy Grande will be celebrating its 41st anniversary this ‘06’07 season. With 1,800 registered life-time members and 500 registered entries each year, “Muy” has definitely created a legacy. It is estimated that “Muy” has measured approximately 18,000 heads of deer in his lifetime. Actors, politicians, sports athletes, musicians, and evangelists have all passed through the doors of the Muy Grande Village still located in Freer, Texas. After talking to “Muy” about his career, he has one last story to share.

His grandmother, a Native American Indian, was a midwife and taught “Muy” much about the land and brush country. “Muy” distinctly remembers a time in the 1950’s when his Indian Grandmother would perform the same ritual every morning after breakfast. She would save the liquid from broken egg shells and after a few days, rub it behind the knees of “Muy”. Every time, she would say the same thing…that Leonel would not get polio and would run faster than any deer. As time passed and due to the power of prayer, both would come true. “Muy” did not get polio; he became a state qualifier for the mile run, and of course, has continued to having a thriving career centered on whitetail deer.

Today, "Muy's" daughter, Imelda, is now the manager, and "Muy" can still be found at the Village selling Real Estate and sharing hunting stories with the customers.