BISHOP, Texas — Former Bishop Consolidated Independent School District Athletic Director George Luna, who died last December, was honored with an outdoor powerlifting meet on Friday.
The competition was named in his honor and saw eight teams compete.
"It feels good to be here honoring George in a sport that he created here 25 years ago," Bishop High School Head Powerlifting Coach Lazaro Perez said.
Luna was athletic director at Bishop CISD for more than a decade. Perez said powerlifting was important to Luna, and he never wanted to miss a meet.
"He made effort within his busy schedule to always come around and help, lend a helping hand, cause that was, that's who George was," Perez said.
At least 135 lifters competed at George Luna stadium—traveling from across Texas.
George's wife, Sherry Rose-Luna, joined her family before the competition as her late husband was recognized. She said the Bishop community has gone above and beyond to comfort them after his death. She remembered how George used to say everyone was his best friend.
"It didn't matter who you were, you were loved and you meant the world to him, and what's happening now is a result of how he lived his life and how he treated people," Rose-Luna said.
Tre Galvan has been powerlifting since 7th grade—also playing football and competing in track. He said it felt great to compete in Luna's honor.
"We have his honor in the back, on the back of our shirt," Galvan said. "It just feels like he's with us every step and everywhere and when we're lifting, it feels like he's right there helping us out."
Luna was also the regional director for the Texas High School Powerlifting Association. Perez said he was handed that title by Luna in 2013. He explained that Luna was his coach throughout middle and high school, which influenced who he is today.
"Everything that I've always known in coaching—powerlifting, football—it was because of George and it's just something that I'm humbled to do and, you know, we miss him dearly," Perez said.
Perez said he plans to make the powerlifting classic an annual event and was honored to create it in Luna's memory.