Charro Days Fiesta • Brownsville TX • Feb 21st

Jose Sulaiman this year's Mr. Amigo

MichaelPucket as Parade Marshal

Michael Puckett’s first job with Charro Days came just out of high school, when he was drafted to drive a float in one of the annual parades.
That, of course, doesn’t count the times as a young boy when he donned colorful costumes and marched in the parades himself.Since then, Puckett has been a permanent fixture in Brownville’s premier celebration, and now serves as executive director of Charro Days Inc. Read more...

Charro Days activities and events

Baile del Sol to kick off Charro Days Swirling skirts, delicate laces and silver embellishments -- Brownsville decks itself in the colorful culture of Mexico during the 72nd annual Charro Days, Feb. 22 through March 1. Parades, fireworks, dances and street festivals are all part of this unique bi-national festival, which celebrates the shared traditions and friendship of Brownsville and Matamoros Read more...

Charro Days Volunteers ...Thank You!

If you watch a parade, dance at a costume ball, or eat something good during Charro Days, thank a volunteer. Volunteers organize those parades, decorate the dance halls, grill the fajitas and do countless other things to make this bi-national, cultural celebration a huge success.

Vicente Fernandez Jr. This Year's Mr. Amigo

International boxing administrator Jose Sulaiman will join the Charro Days celebration as this year’s Mr. Amigo.

The Mr. Amigo award has been given every year since 1964 to an outstanding Mexican citizen who contributes to international friendship and respect between the U.S. and Mexico. It has been a part of Charro Days since 1967.

Sulaiman is the longtime president of the World Boxing Council and the first sports figure to win that honor, said Mr. Amigo Association President David Morales.

“He’s everything the Mr. Amigo Association is all about,” he said. “We’re about creating bridges, not walls, between our two countries.”

Sulaiman, who boxed himself as a young boy, became WBC president in 1975. He has worked to introduce a number of innovations aimed at a more humane sport. These include the four-roped ring, weigh-ins 24 hours before bouts, and a reduction of championship rounds from 15 to 12. He has also supported brain injury research.

Sulaima was inducted into the "World Boxing Hall of Fame" in 2001 and the "International Boxing Hall of Fame" in 2007. His WBC is one of four major organizations recognized by the ""IBHF"" which sanction world championship "Boxing" bouts.

Morales described Sulaiman as a humanitarian who spoke out against apartheid and who has done extraordinary things to improve his sport.

“It’s just amazing what he’s done for boxing,” said Morales. “He was helping people when they didn’t have a voice. He was a voice for equality.”
Morales said Mr. Amigo has usually been an artist or entertainment personality. “This is going to be the first sports-minded Mr. Amigo,” he said. “It’s really incredible what he’s done to help people.”

Sulaiman joins a long and impressive line of artists, politicians and business leaders – both men and women – who have received the award. Last year, Angelica Vale of “La Fea Mas Bella” joined "Cantinflas,” Sergio Bustamante and Lola Beltran on that distinguished list.

While Sulaiman has a room full of awards and honors from all over the world, he expressed humble appreciation at being selected as Mr. Amigo, Morales said.
“He told me he was very honored to even be considered for this type of award,” he said. Mr. Amigo is always a visible participant in the Charro Days celebration, and receives many tokens of affection and respect from both cities. “Basically we shower him with love,” Morales said with a laugh. A key to the city, a flag flown over the U.S. and Texas capitals -- even a letter from the President – will be bestowed on Mr. Amigo this year.

He will be recognized at the President’s Costume Ball, the Illuminated Parade and the Awards Banquet, where he will receive the official Mr. Amigo medallion. Sulaiman also is making plans to speak at school programs, Morales said.

Mr. Amigo also traditionally participates in the opening “Hands Across the Border” ceremony, which takes place on the International Bridge.

Mr. Amigo is selected each year by a committee of current and past presidents of the Mr. Amigo Association. According to the organization guidelines??, the selection committee “seeks to designate an individual who promotes the improvement of the quality of life in the Hispanic Community and who also serves as a role model for the Community.”

The recipient must also be “a Mexican citizen who has contributed to the friendship and understanding of the United States and Mexico, and has excelled in their profession, exemplifying the highest standards in their personal and professional life.”

{ Back to Homepage }