[HouTango-L] Joe MacLoughlin commended by City of Houston for tango support

[A. Lester Buck III]

Back when Argentine tango in Houston was taking its first baby
steps in 1996, the only person that danced with us that had much
skill in tango was Laura Fletcher, and she had no idea how to
teach the leader's role.  One day an older gentleman came to dance
with us, and he had been dancing Argentine tango since he was a
teenager in Buenos Aires.  His name was Joe MacLoughlin, and he
gave us hope and endless support.  Joe would show up impecably
dressed in a coat and tie, showing us the BsAs tango style, even
when our air conditioning was not up to par.  He personified the
elegant tanguero for us, and gave us something to strive for.
Most importantly, the women would tell us "Yes!  Lead me like
that!"

Joe MacLoughlin was born April 10, 1936, in the Argentine
pampas, and moved to Buenos Aires when he was eleven.  He grew
up in the dance halls of Buenos Aires during the Golden Age of
tango, when dancing tango was a basic social skill and maybe
half the population of the city of four million knew how to
dance.  Joe comes from an Irish family that settled in Argentina
generations ago.  While never living in Ireland, his family still
speaks perfect English with a fascinating Irish accent.  Ask him
sometime to recite his little ditty about "The cow is in the grass"
and you will suddenly think you are in an Irish Spring commercial.

Joe ended up working for the U.S. Foreign Service from 1958 until
he retired in 1991.  Then he began his second career with the
Consulate of Argentina in Houston in 1995.  Joe and the Consulate
have always been great friends of Argentine tango in Houston,
sponsoring many cultural and dance events over the more than
two decades.

The Consulate of Argentina recently held its annual 25th of May
celebration, commemorating the first successful revolution in
the South American independence process in 1810.  At this event,
the City of Houston gave Joe a special commendation for his
tireless support of the Consulate of Argentina in Houston and his
"contributions to the economic development, education, culture
and arts of the Houston community and Argentina."  The award was
signed by Mayor Sylvester Turner and awarded by Deanea LeFlore,
Chief of Protocol of the City of Houston.

Congratulations, Joe, and thank you for your support all these
years!

Photos from the event:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pagt1w1jrn4ay0x/AAAzhS_pM1fnk5FLiJnir53pa?dl=0