MAGAZINE ARTICLE ABOUT QUADALAJARA
(The following is a first edit preview of an article which, hopefully this time, will appear in a national publication.)
They came from Long Beach, Chicago, New England, New York, Iowa, Oregon, Minnesota and even Puerto Rico. Who were they? Paralyzed veterans, mostly, paraplegics and quadriplegics hoping for a new beginning. In search of freedom and independence from years confined in veterans' hospitals and their bedrooms, unable or unwilling to face the outside world. A world vacant of opportunity for the simplest of human needs --- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
For the earliest survivors of spinal cord injuries, and others stricken with cruel disabilities that left them the pitied wheelchair-bound members of society, life could be cold and hope for the future even colder. There were some who beat the odds and managed to live full, productive lives --- but they were the rare exception of the reality that being confined to a wheelchair in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's represented.
According to Jack Tumidajski, author of QUADALAJARA - The Utopia That Once Was, the first ray of hope for many appeared in a Paraplegia News magazine article in 1954. In an open letter to fellow Paralyzed Veterans of America members, James Seybold touts the ideal climate, accessibility and beauty that he discovered in the 'El Dorado of the Western Hemisphere', Mexico City. And, added Seybold, "One word about the senoritas - WOW!" At about the same time, a few other nomadic paraplegics were exploring other auras up the road a ways --- in Quadalajara.
As word spread, other brave souls, paraplegic and quadriplegic veterans of World War II and the Korea War, soon followed. By the late 50's some twenty paras and quads were renting houses and rooms in this newfound Utopia some 300 miles northwest of Mexico City in what someone cutely dubbed "Quadalajara" (melding the words quadriplegic and Guadalajara). Although the passage of time has claimed the names and identities of the earliest explorers of this enticing South-of-the-Border quad paradise, others' names live on in old newspaper articles, magazine achieves and in Tumidajski's book. George Ray, who took over the reigns of what was probably Quadalajara's first group home-away-from-home, from a fellow American para who the locals referred to as Senor Roberto, was soon spreading the word to any para or quad --- trapped in a VA hospital --- interested and adventurous enough to leave family and friends behind and journey to this relatively unknown and uncharted territory.
The gradual trickle of curious paras and quads continued. Young Mexican men, capable of lifting a quadriplegic in and out of bed or vehicle, were recruited and trained to care for quadriplegics.
George Ray teamed first with fellow para Joe Miller in running "George Ray's Place" until Miller struck out on his own, opening an eight room wheelchair-friendly home close to Guadalajara's soccer stadium . Bill Macleary then partnered with Ray and would make period trips to the Long Beach VA Hospital to personally escort men like Bill Bailey and Patrick Wolf to their group home.
In October 1958 Bill Bailey became the first American quad to marry a local senorita, marrying one of the nursing attendants originally hired to care for those who required nursing care. Wolf, an independent para, returned to the States and Macleary opened his own community house across town in the suburb of Las Fuentes. Other paras and quads who had heard of this place in Mexico that promised sunshine in paradise arrived from the US. to take their place.
By 1960 there was sufficient interest in Quadalajara for the opening of a fourth wheelchair community. The spacious Hacienda Las Fuentes, located a block away from "Macleary's Place", was founded by Larry Kegan, a quadriplegic and lifelong friend of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Within a few years the number of paraplegic and quadriplegic residents of this unique fraternity had grown to over fifty, as friends and new friends began moving out on their own or to share three and four bedroom houses. More quads and paras married locals girls --- another attraction for lonely paralyzed men in seemingly hopeless situations back home.
By the mid-60's the Quadalajara population had reached the century mark. Some American wheelers resided there year round while others visited briefly or became regular snowbirds --- spending winters in Mexico while bringing their Mexican attendants back to the States with them during summer months to spend time with family and friends . Paralyzed veterans who had heard of this place in Mexico from fellow hospital buddies or read advertisements in the Paraplegic News and elsewhere, as well as, non-veterans made for a steady stream of newcomers.
The vets organized and petitioned the national organization of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) for their own chapter South-of-the-Border. The Mexico Chapter PVA became a reality in 1964. By 1967 they had their own clubhouse and BINGO hall. The once rowdy Pioneers had new focus and purpose in life and turned their energy toward helping, not only one another, but children at Jalisco's state run orphanage and poor local grade school children in their community. At the Time, QUADALAJARA author Jack Tumidajski was totally oblivious to what he would someday encounter. He was barely out of kindergarten when James Seybold was exploring territory in and around Mexico City, was a ten year old fourth-grader when future friend and Compadre Bill Bailey discovered this quad paradise and married a pretty senorita, and was a student at Providence College when the Mexico PVA members purchased their clubhouse. Financial concerns led to Tumidajski dropping out of college in his sophomore year. He joined the Army and soon found himself in Vietnam. Within days of his safe return home, he was hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit . An idiot driver had broken his dreams --- and his neck --- in a split second of stupidity!
The author shares some of his experiences, setbacks and triumphs during his two year hospitalization and rehabilitation and year and a half a living as a virtual shut-in before his decision to ''Check out" Quadalajara.
Tumidajski does not go into his entire life story, rather opting to focus on the time leading up to his own journey to Quadalajara. He spends sufficient time introducing his character through both his Vietnam experience and an exotic R&R spent in Bangkok Thailand.
The two stories become entwined shortly thereafter as the author, according to Military Writers Society of America President Bill McDonald, "Does a wonderful job preserving the history of these people and this subculture. Thanks to him, future generations will not forget this American community that once was so vibrant and active in the heart of Mexico."
They came from Long Beach, Chicago, New England, New York, Iowa, Oregon, Minnesota and even Puerto Rico. Who were they? Paralyzed veterans, mostly, paraplegics and quadriplegics hoping for a new beginning. In search of freedom and independence from years confined in veterans' hospitals and their bedrooms, unable or unwilling to face the outside world. A world vacant of opportunity for the simplest of human needs --- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
For the earliest survivors of spinal cord injuries, and others stricken with cruel disabilities that left them the pitied wheelchair-bound members of society, life could be cold and hope for the future even colder. There were some who beat the odds and managed to live full, productive lives --- but they were the rare exception of the reality that being confined to a wheelchair in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's represented.
According to Jack Tumidajski, author of QUADALAJARA - The Utopia That Once Was, the first ray of hope for many appeared in a Paraplegia News magazine article in 1954. In an open letter to fellow Paralyzed Veterans of America members, James Seybold touts the ideal climate, accessibility and beauty that he discovered in the 'El Dorado of the Western Hemisphere', Mexico City. And, added Seybold, "One word about the senoritas - WOW!" At about the same time, a few other nomadic paraplegics were exploring other auras up the road a ways --- in Quadalajara.
As word spread, other brave souls, paraplegic and quadriplegic veterans of World War II and the Korea War, soon followed. By the late 50's some twenty paras and quads were renting houses and rooms in this newfound Utopia some 300 miles northwest of Mexico City in what someone cutely dubbed "Quadalajara" (melding the words quadriplegic and Guadalajara). Although the passage of time has claimed the names and identities of the earliest explorers of this enticing South-of-the-Border quad paradise, others' names live on in old newspaper articles, magazine achieves and in Tumidajski's book. George Ray, who took over the reigns of what was probably Quadalajara's first group home-away-from-home, from a fellow American para who the locals referred to as Senor Roberto, was soon spreading the word to any para or quad --- trapped in a VA hospital --- interested and adventurous enough to leave family and friends behind and journey to this relatively unknown and uncharted territory.
The gradual trickle of curious paras and quads continued. Young Mexican men, capable of lifting a quadriplegic in and out of bed or vehicle, were recruited and trained to care for quadriplegics.
George Ray teamed first with fellow para Joe Miller in running "George Ray's Place" until Miller struck out on his own, opening an eight room wheelchair-friendly home close to Guadalajara's soccer stadium . Bill Macleary then partnered with Ray and would make period trips to the Long Beach VA Hospital to personally escort men like Bill Bailey and Patrick Wolf to their group home.
In October 1958 Bill Bailey became the first American quad to marry a local senorita, marrying one of the nursing attendants originally hired to care for those who required nursing care. Wolf, an independent para, returned to the States and Macleary opened his own community house across town in the suburb of Las Fuentes. Other paras and quads who had heard of this place in Mexico that promised sunshine in paradise arrived from the US. to take their place.
By 1960 there was sufficient interest in Quadalajara for the opening of a fourth wheelchair community. The spacious Hacienda Las Fuentes, located a block away from "Macleary's Place", was founded by Larry Kegan, a quadriplegic and lifelong friend of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Within a few years the number of paraplegic and quadriplegic residents of this unique fraternity had grown to over fifty, as friends and new friends began moving out on their own or to share three and four bedroom houses. More quads and paras married locals girls --- another attraction for lonely paralyzed men in seemingly hopeless situations back home.
By the mid-60's the Quadalajara population had reached the century mark. Some American wheelers resided there year round while others visited briefly or became regular snowbirds --- spending winters in Mexico while bringing their Mexican attendants back to the States with them during summer months to spend time with family and friends . Paralyzed veterans who had heard of this place in Mexico from fellow hospital buddies or read advertisements in the Paraplegic News and elsewhere, as well as, non-veterans made for a steady stream of newcomers.
The vets organized and petitioned the national organization of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) for their own chapter South-of-the-Border. The Mexico Chapter PVA became a reality in 1964. By 1967 they had their own clubhouse and BINGO hall. The once rowdy Pioneers had new focus and purpose in life and turned their energy toward helping, not only one another, but children at Jalisco's state run orphanage and poor local grade school children in their community. At the Time, QUADALAJARA author Jack Tumidajski was totally oblivious to what he would someday encounter. He was barely out of kindergarten when James Seybold was exploring territory in and around Mexico City, was a ten year old fourth-grader when future friend and Compadre Bill Bailey discovered this quad paradise and married a pretty senorita, and was a student at Providence College when the Mexico PVA members purchased their clubhouse. Financial concerns led to Tumidajski dropping out of college in his sophomore year. He joined the Army and soon found himself in Vietnam. Within days of his safe return home, he was hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit . An idiot driver had broken his dreams --- and his neck --- in a split second of stupidity!
The author shares some of his experiences, setbacks and triumphs during his two year hospitalization and rehabilitation and year and a half a living as a virtual shut-in before his decision to ''Check out" Quadalajara.
Tumidajski does not go into his entire life story, rather opting to focus on the time leading up to his own journey to Quadalajara. He spends sufficient time introducing his character through both his Vietnam experience and an exotic R&R spent in Bangkok Thailand.
The two stories become entwined shortly thereafter as the author, according to Military Writers Society of America President Bill McDonald, "Does a wonderful job preserving the history of these people and this subculture. Thanks to him, future generations will not forget this American community that once was so vibrant and active in the heart of Mexico."
Labels: Guadalajara Hospitality Arch "Los Arcos" - The Original Entrace to the City
posted by Jack at 4:03 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Jack,
My name is Patty Kegan, Larry's oldest daughter. I'm so glad you mantioned my dad on your add. I'm so proud of my dad! Through all these years, I see that some day was going to be rewarding his mission at "Las Fuentes" in Guadalajara. Dad was and still is a Role-Model and an inspiration for those who met him. Although I was very young, I do remember going to "Las Fuentes", I remember Cecero, Jack Black , Charlie and probably if I see you: I might able to remember you...
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