A 50-YEAR LOVE STORY

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

Emmitt and Rose Flores go together like peas and carrots, or maybe peanut butter and jelly. If you see one, more often than not you see the other one as well.

Theirs is a love story that began more than 50 years ago as sophomores in their home room class at the old Waco High School on Columbus Avenue (which was renovated about 15 years ago into loft apartments).

"We met then, we didn't really date," said Emmitt, who celebrated 25 years with Baylor Athletics this summer and serves as assistant director of ticket operations. "I think she even asked me if I'd like to help decorate the home room door for homecoming. And I declined. I didn't really know her that well yet."

They actually went their separate ways after that first year of high school, with Rose moving to the new Waco High School on 19^th Street (now part of McLennan Community College) and Emmitt going to Jefferson-Moore High School near downtown Waco.

Shortly after they both graduated high school in 1973, Emmitt and Rose got together again at a local meeting of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), with Rose's uncle, Manuel Gonzales, serving as the State and National president.

"We were the youngest two there, and we were kind of bored while they were conducting their business," Emmitt said. "So, we sat together and got to know each other a little bit better. And I asked her if she'd like to go out sometime. Of course, she accepted. And from there, it just took off. We got married on June 28, 1975, and we've been together ever since – 48 years and four months."

And they've lost count of the number of Baylor events that they've enjoyed together over the last 50 years.

"When they hired me, they hired her, too," Emmitt said. "She loves Baylor. We go to all these different events, and we make the road trips whenever we can, no matter what sport it is. We try to follow football, especially, but then also basketball, baseball and softball."

While Emmitt's primary responsibilities for the ticketing office are baseball, softball and soccer, "we all pitch in and work football," he said.

"And if they ever need me to work basketball, I'm always available. But I've worked every sport we've ever had to work, whether it's track or whatever the sport is. Basically, anything that's ticketed."

Matt Johnson, Associate AD for Ticket Operations, said Emmitt "has an unwavering commitment to the student-athlete, above and beyond athletic events."

"Whether that's with his wife volunteering with the Women's Basketball Tip Off Club, or traveling to other events while not working to support Baylor's student-athletes in the various sports," Johnson said. "Not to mention the numerous fans that come up to the ticket office windows and only ask for Emmitt, which shows what a staple he has become to Baylor Athletics."

Growing up in South Waco at 5^th Street and Daughtrey Avenue, a house he would later rent out to Baylor students, Emmitt lived a stone's throw from the Baylor campus and three miles from the old Baylor Stadium (later changed to Floyd Casey Stadium).

"We grew up here on campus," said Emmitt, the oldest of five children raised by Emmitt Flores Sr. and Rita Joyce (Martinez) Flores. "We used to play in the creek and go around in our go-carts collecting glass battles and redeeming them at the store for a nickel. Then, we'd go to the Chuck Wagon and play pinball and order hamburgers. We did the whole thing at Baylor campus even playing touch football at Edgefield where the Baylor band practices."

Emmitt Flores

While he was at South Junior High School, Emmitt and some friends would even help campaign on campus for candidates running for Baylor student government positions.

"We'd wear these sandwich boards and go through all the different cafeterias on campus with those message boards – Vote for Whoever," he said.

While working on an associate's degree in accounting from MCC, Emmitt worked at the local Dr Pepper bottling plant. He then worked for the community college, starting in student activities, advancing to the business office and eventually to Human Resources.

It was during that time that Emmitt started working part-time with the Baylor ticket office in 1993, selling tickets on football game days.

"We would go to satellite ticket offices outside and around Floyd Casey," he said. "We'd have trailers set up, and we'd sell tickets from there. And I did that for five years."

Interviewed by a committee that included ticket office manager Mary Felkner, David Taylor and current associate AD Nancy Post, Emmitt was hired for a full-time position with the Baylor Athletics ticket office in June 1998.

"Back then, we only had four full-time people, because there weren't a lot of offices there," he said. "Everybody had a lot more responsibilities and got exposed to a lot more duties, a lot more sports. I got to touch bases with just about every sport that we ticketed."

Going back to his days as just a fan, and his 30 years altogether at Baylor, Emmitt lists some of his favorite events:

Nov. 9, 1974: "Miracle on the Brazos," Baylor football's come-from-behind 34-24 win over Texas. "They had Earl Campbell and Roosevelt Leaks. We were sitting in the north end zone watching that game. That was memorable.
Nov. 25, 1989: Baylor football rolled over Texas, 50-7, for its first win in Austin in 38 years. "I had friends saying Baylor was going to lose in Austin. And I said, 'Are you kidding me? We've got one of the best defenses in the country.' And a lot of those guys went on to play in the NFL. That defense was just dominating."
Dec. 7, 2013: In the "Close the Case" game, Baylor defeats Texas, 30-10, to win the Big 12 championship in the final game at Floyd Casey. "Rose wasn't going to miss that, but it was so cold, she watched from one of the offices that overlooked the field from the north end zone. We stayed in and watched the complete game to celebrate, but it was so cold. I still hear so many stories about how cold it was for that game."
Women's basketball: "All the consecutive Big 12 championships (12), we were at most of the games here. And anytime we hosted (the NCAA Tournament), Rose and I were here. Then, the national championship games (2005, 2012, 2019). We didn't get to attend those, but we definitely witnessed them and loved watching Brittney (Griner) with all of her dunks."
Men's basketball: "Of course, the championship they won over Gonzaga (in 2021). That was pretty special. The Terry Black dunks over Kansas in 2001 when we upset them (85-77 in Waco). The games at the Heart O' Texas Coliseum in the 1980s, including the lights-out game with A&M in '82."
Softball: "We hosted the USA Olympics team (in 2004), and Crystl Bustos hit a 330-foot home run after some of the Baylor students were kidding her about a Twinkie. And then, last year's win over Oklahoma (4-3), the Sooners' only loss of the year. That was special."
Baseball: "I remember going to baseball games (at Ferrell Field) when it was just a chain-link fence and bleachers, and it was right next door to the Texas State Little League fields, now Getterman Stadium. That brings back memories. We've come a long way since then."
Track & Field: Rose's cousin, Robert Quiroga, ran the second leg on a 4x400-meter relay that finished second at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2002 with freshman and future Olympian Darold Williamson on the anchor leg.

Very much an equal opportunity fan, Emmitt also mentioned soccer winning the school's first Big 12 championship in 1998; men's tennis winning Baylor's first national championship in 2004; All-American Yossiana Pressley leading volleyball to the Final Four in 2019; and the acrobatics & tumbling team winning seven-consecutive NCATA national championships.

Including his dad and four younger siblings – Dora, Steve, Ricky and Michelle – all of Emmitt's family still lives in the Waco area. That's the tie that binds and one of the main reasons he's stayed in Waco for all 69 years of his life. His mom, Rita, passed away in August.

Emmitt, who was the treasurer for the state and national LULAC offices under Manuel Gonzales in the 1970s, said he is proud of his Hispanic heritage.

"I felt like it was really important to help others coming up behind us," he said, "try to be a mentor for them, too, just like my dad was for us. And then some of the other folks like Manuel Gonzales. He was a big mentor of mine."

"We try to encourage people, especially the young Hispanic men and women. And we tell them, if you plan on going to school, please go. I don't care which college you go to. But if you're going to start some place, please finish, because that's going to help you to have a better life and be a good citizen that can contribute to your community or where you wind up living."

A member of the Knights of Columbus and involved in Sacred Heart Church, Emmitt celebrates Mexico's history with Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5 that recognizes Mexico's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla, while Mexican Independence Day (September 16) celebrates the end of Spain's 300-year rule of Mexico.

Emmitt Flores

Emmitt and Rose are planning a trip to Europe again in 2025 for their 50^th wedding anniversary with a renewal of their vows. This past summer, they had a memorable trip that included Buckingham Palace in London and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, riding the London Eye observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames, Rome and touring the Vatican City.

"You get to see it all on TV, but it's nothing like going in there and seeing everything in person at the Vatican," Emmitt said. "You see all these massive columns, the paintings and the flooring, and it's all so well-preserved. It was incredible. Hopefully, we get to visit and have an audience with the Pope when we go back.""

Working out 2-3 times a week, Emmitt is still healthy and hasn't given a lot of thought about retiring, but he's always told Rose, "When I turn 70, I'm going to retire." That will come on September 26, 2024.

"I'm kind of weighing the pluses and minuses," he said. "But I know a lot of our customers will tell me, 'Emmitt, you can't ever retire because I don't know who I'm going to call to help me.' And I get a lot of that. I'm blessed that I've made a lot of friendships over the years with Baylor fans and season ticketholders. I always tell them that if they ever need anything, give me a call. And if I can't help, I'll found somebody else in the office that can help."

A 50-YEAR LOVE STORY

Related Videos

Promotional Background Photo

Footer