Henry Pacheco was seven when he slipped on his first pair of boxing gloves and began challenging neighborhood children in Santa Fe. When he was 15 he made his boxing debut in Madrid, N.M. at the annual Fourth of July celebration. At 19 years of age he joined the Marines and went on to a series of Armed Forces titles, including the bantam champion of the Hawaiian Islands and bantamweight champion of the Pacific Fleet. When he returned to Santa Fe as a civilian his biggest feat came in 1923 when he knocked out an opponent that was 70 pounds heavier. Pacheco was ecstatic with his winnings of $50 and the fact that a crowd of fans carried him to the Mayflower Café in downtown Santa Fe to celebrate his momentous victory.
Nothing depicts the spirit of Santa Fe more than the people with a competitive spirit, who also have brains, brawn, and talent that excel in sports. Until Santa Fe’s Capital High school opened in 1975, the on-going sports rivalry between St. Michael’s High School and Santa Fe High School dominated local sports for 86 years. Until Santa Fe’s Capital High school opened in 1975, the on-going sports rivalry between St. Michael’s High School (1859– present) and Santa Fe High School (1889–present) dominated city sports.