Trevino, who is blind in his left eye and has tunnel vision in his right, began competing four years ago at the Golden Age Games, recognized as the largest organized sporting event in the world for senior veterans.
HOLLISTER -- When Ray Trevino returns from the National Veterans Golden Age Games each year with a medal, there tends to be a two-pronged result.
For one, it feeds his fondness for competition.
"Being competitive in any sport, you want to win," he said.
But the 71-year-old Hollister resident is also a bit of a pioneer, and his growing collection of medals from the Golden Age Games may just be helping him establish new barriers for those who are visually impaired, as well as other vets in the area.
Trevino, who is blind in his left eye and has tunnel vision in his right, which limits his peripheral vision and allows him to see just a few feet straight ahead, began competing four years ago at the Golden Age Games, recognized as the largest organized sporting event in the world for senior veterans. Bringing together more than 700 competitors every year to compete in games such as discus, shot put, swimming and table tennis, the Games also offer visually impaired activities such as bowling, horseshoes and shuffleboard.
Trevino wants to win when he competes, of course, but stirring awareness for other blind competitors as well as other veterans seems to be a close second for him, if it's not neck-and-neck already with his desire to compete.
"I'm going for games that people who are blind can play," said Trevino, who returned in June from the Games in Birmingham, Ala., with a bronze medal in shuffleboard.
"I had never even played it before," Trevino added about the game.
A Korean War veteran -- he lost vision in his left eye due to complications with diabetes eight years ago -- Trevino's jovial demeanor portrays him as an independent individual, despite his impairment, and his success and groundbreaking attitude have certainly not gone unnoticed.
Hollister resident Bill Rodriguez got word of the Golden Age Games at the VA health care system in Palo Alto, and traveled with Trevino to Alabama to compete.
"When he showed me his (medals), I was like, 'Maybe I'll try it,' " said Rodriguez, 60, a Vietnam vet. "Ray's been good as far as his competing and talking to other veterans competing.
"I got kind of interested and I thought it'd be good therapy."
Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Rodriguez at first was uneasy at the Games. Being in close proximity with other veterans at the Games brought back bad memories for Rodriguez. But after speaking with others about it, Rodriguez plans to return next year, and he'll have until May 2010 to prepare.
Competing in air rifle, croquet, horseshoes and shuffleboard this year, Rodriguez fell short of earning a medal.
"I'll do a lot more practicing this year," he said. "I'll be better next year.
"Some of the veterans are better than others."
Trevino's success, so far, has come in visually impaired events -- he's received two previous medals in bowling. Of course, his passion lies on the links. Trevino pines for a medal in golf, even if it means competing against sighted players.
"I love it and I'm gonna do it," he said. "I am. I am going to do it."
Although Trevino admits medaling against sighted players would be difficult -- he was only 15 strokes short of medaling this year -- the number of blind golf players competing at the Golden Age Games has drastically increased in recent years, leaving Trevino optimistic for a visually impaired golf division in the future.
Four years ago, Trevino was the only blind golfer competing at the Games. This past year, he said, there were approximately 15 to 17 blind competitors.
"Now," Trevino said, "I'm very happy."
NOTE: In order to raise funds for his next trip to the National Veterans Golden Age Games, slated for Des Moines, Iowa in May of 2010, Ray Trevino is selling two of his specially made products. Ray's Famous Rub, a food spice ($12), and Ray's Salsa ($7) are both available at Johnny's Bar and Grill, located on San Benito Street in downtown Hollister.
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