NORMAN — Raul Salinas, 83, passed away Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, at Noble Health Care Center.
Services will be 11 a.m. today at McMahans Funeral Home, with Chaplain Terry Jones officiating.
Raul was born July 20, 1929, in Columbia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He later moved to Norman, where he pursued a career in training horses.
Raul led a gratifying life in the realm of polo, traveling all over the United States following the polo circuit. In 1969, he was asked to accompany the U.S. polo team of horses by plane to Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was in charge of overseeing the care and grooming of the horses.
Raul was a natural horseman. He was a trainer of polo ponies for Clark Hetherington with the Broad Acres Polo Club for 25 years. He was also a polo player and taught his two sons to become polo players themselves. He was responsible for the impeccable polo fields and facilities for Clark Hetherington and Bob Moore’s Broad Acres Polo Club. One of Raul’s artistic talents included braiding rawhide to make horse tack. These are just some of the attributes that made Raul such a special man.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Maria Montez Salinas, and a brother, Beto Salinas.
Survivors include brothers Ramon Salinas, Juez Salinas, Alonzo Salinas, Jesus Salinas, Rogelio Salinas and Daniel Salinas; and sisters Socorro De la Rosa and Emma Salinas.
Raul was a loving father to his sons Rudy Salinas of Norman and Arturo Salinas and wife Linda of Burleson, Texas; daughters Edith Salinas of Noble, Yolanda Beckenhauer and husband Rod of Norman and Maria Lewis and husband Steve of Montgomery City, Mo. Grandchildren include Julie Richardson, Tony Rios, Linda Rios, Marty Salinas, Christina Wood, Sara Hughes, Ryan Beckenhauer, Haleigh Beckenhauer, Jennifer Nemecek, Whitney Nemecek, Stephen Nemecek, Victoria Salinas, Corinna Rios and Izzybella Rios.
Burial will be in Noble IOOF Cemetery.
Arrangements are by McMahan’s Funeral Home in Noble.
Norman Transcript, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012
For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
