On March 20, 2025 the San Antonio City Council unanimously approved renaming the San Antonio Natatorium to Atanacio Garcia Natatorium, recognizing the determined COPS/Metro leader of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine Catholic Church who organized his community to create the city’s first Olympic-sized public pool on the West Side.
In the mid-1970's, children on the West Side had few formal opportunities for recreation and the nearest pools were miles away. It was hard to get the city to spend money on West Side projects. But, in 1974, Mr. Garcia's pastor, Fr. Edmundo Rodriguez, joined hands with other West and South Side parishes to create an organization that would get the city's attention: Communities Organized for Public Service, or COPS. Between 1974-1980, Mr. Garcia and other parish leaders lobbied for the West and South Side's fair share of the city budget. They block walked to get out the vote for hundreds of millions in bond money for the pool, and also for parks, libraries, and drainage infrastructure. The world-class swimming facility continues to be enjoyed by families across San Antonio and was home to several highly competitive swimmers, including Adrian Montoya and Josh Davis, an Olympic qualifier and three-time gold medal winner, respectively.
COPS/Metro leaders and supporters advocated for the Natatorium's renaming to honor Mr. Garcia's legacy and testified to city council:
Rose Garcia, Mr. Garcia's daughter and COPS/Metro leader said "Dad recognized the need for after-school sports and activities for our neighborhood children. In the late '60s, his dream of having an Olympic-sized pool in the heart of the West Side was born. Throughout the 1970s, he walked the neighborhood getting neighbors to sign petitions and he wrote letters to city, state, and national elected officials asking for support. He received a lot of nos - no land, no money. He never gave up. In 1974, he worked with COPS/Metro leaders and they were successful in their mission to create a natatorium for all children in San Antonio. It opened in 1981. In 2022, Pope Francis blessed my Madrecita Gloria and my Dad's photos and he also blessed COPS/Metro leaders for their work."
"He was a man with a purpose. He was a role model. He was my mentor," said COPS/Metro leader Maria Tijerina. "He had many lists with people's names, phone numbers, addresses, detailed notes and endless lists of political officials he engaged with...He received a letter from then Congressman Henry B. Gonzales where he wrote 'keep up up the fight for the swimming pool.' The fight wasn't easy. He confronted difficulties when he was told by political officials that lifeguards would never come work on the West Side...But he was adamant and had a vision for the children of the West Side...In a letter to the mayor and city council, Mr. Garcia said 'as parents and grownups, we should be concerned not only about housing, dressing, feeding, and providing our children with education but we must also prepare them and help them make their way in life. We can teach them hygiene, good manners, to work, about religion, we can teach them how to dance and how to swim. All this shall make them useful to society.'"
Former Congressman Charlie Gonzales testified "Let me give you an example of what an incredible individual Mr. Garcia was and how one person can make a huge difference. And it could be one minute at a time, one dollar at a time, but the sense of community that Mr. Garcia represents should motivate us all as citizens of this country, coming together and each doing each our part. So I'm in congress and I have Mr. Garcia come to the office and he brings a tin can filled with change...Mr. Garcia would actually collect aluminum cans and people's change at the door of his house at times and want to give it to the United States Treasury for the purpose of paying down the national debt. This was a man from that particular zip code who felt a responsibility to help get this nation out of debt. You name somebody today that you run across that has any kind of compassion and sense of community that compares to Mr. Garcia. That's what we're lacking today. So this is much more than an Olympic-sized pool, which is a major contribution. This is about the spirit and dedication of a man that really should be a role model for all of us."
[Photo Credit: Office of Council Member Teri Castillo]
West Side's Natatorium Renamed for the Man Who Fought to Bring it to Life, San Antonio Express News
Testimony at San Antonio City Council Meeting, City of San Antonio [video]
City Council Approves the Renaming of the San Antonio Natatorium, City of San Antonio [pdf]
Press Release by City Council Member Teri Castillo, Council Member Teri Castillo on Facebook
Olympic Pool Operated by San Antonio Undergoing Renovations; used as training site by past Olympians, Texas Public Radio [pdf]
From Dreams to Reality: The Story of the San Antonio Natatorium, St. Mary's University Rattlers Remember [pdf]
City Council Approves Renaming of San Antonio Natatorium in Honor of Local Advocate, Fox SA Puro San Antonio [pdf]
Stories Referencing Atanacio Garcia, St. Mary's University Rattlers Remember
COPS/Metro Leaders Reflect on History of the Organization, COPS/Metro [video]