We’re just connecting the dots
Volume 11 • Issue 6 December 3, 2025
Olympian?
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Are You
WINTER TEXAN a Golden Age
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Have you ever secretly wished you were an Olympian? Well, now’s your moment to give it a go! In addition to all the sunshine and socializing, the City of McAllen gives Winter Texans, Converted Texans, and our local retirees the chance to become champions--AND earn the Texassized bragging rights that come with it. If you like to play pool, there’s a category for that. Prefer baking? Absolutely! Bring your best. darts, bridge, bowling, puzzles, pingpong, and--of course--the wildly popular pickleball…and the list goes on. Whatever your hobby, there’s likely a friendly competition waiting with your name on it. I’ve had the honor of judging the bake-off more than once, and let me tell you; it’s serious business wrapped in a whole lot of fun. You can feel the excitement as people compete, cheer each other on, make new friends, and reconnect with folks they haven’t seen in ages. The Rio Grande Valley is full of opportunities to play, participate, and enjoy the season. What events are on your must-do list? I’d love to hear your favorites! Who knows? You might just inspire someone to go for the gold this year.
Thank You
SEASON SPONSORS 2025-2026
You Can Be! W
by Eryn Reddell Wingert
elcome Home Winter Texan recently posed this question on the Winter Texans RGV (by Welcome Home RGV) group Facebook page: Have you participated in the Golden Age Olympics? It was a multiple-choice question, and here are the results: Yes: 26% No: 41% What is the Golden Age Olympics? 16% We also had two write-in responses: Didn’t know anything about it: 9% I am this year: 8%
The Golden Age Olympics are hosted annually by the McAllen Parks & Recreation Department, with the sole purpose of fostering friendly competition. The program dates back to around 1980, based on archived newspaper accounts. A Letter to the Editor written by Dick Ogle of San Benito that appeared in The Monitor in 1997 praised the Golden Age Olympics organizers. “This all convinces me that McAllen has a side to humankind that defies definition,” the letter read. The Olympics started as a five-day event open to people 55 and older. Today it spans two months, is open to ages 50 and
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