Enrique M. Arriola

Enrique was born in El Paso, Texas as the 2nd of 1 2 siblings. He remained in El Paso, Texas where he completed his schooling. Enrique loved the bull fights that his father took him to in his early teen years in Juarez, Mexico. He educated himself on how he could join the team of true professional bullfighters. Enrique then went on to training in the outskirts of Juarez at a farm with bulls. It was there that the local bullfighting establishment saw that he had substantial talent. After extensive practice with small bulls, his first real bullfight was in the Juarez Monumental Bull Ring. Enrique then went on
to exhibit his skills at a Phoenix, Arizona bull ring where they did not kill the bulls. From there, he moved on to a city outside of Mexico City where he began to make a name for himself. By this time, Enrique was in his early twenties, where he picked up the nickname Garitas (rags).

He was a very good bullfighter, and those on the circuit had decided to send him to Spain for his first fight abroad. After only two fights in Spain, Uncle Sam called him via the draft into the Army. In the
military, he was stationed in Colorado after a few months, after which he was then transferred to Fort Bliss because his father was dying of cancer. Once released from the Army, Enrique resumed his bullfighting he eventually returned for his last bullfight in Juarez. He invited all of his military buddies to see him fight that bull, and he went out in glory where he performed very well. His mother and siblings were in attendance, and all were very nervous but he did thanks to his prowess in the ring, Enrique was successful in killing the bull on the second try!

Enrique follows his wife of 57 years, Anna Maria Arriola, who passed away in 2019. He leaves behind 6 siblings, many nieces, and nephews. Services will be held on Saturday, March 20th at 3 p.m. at White Emerson Mortuary.