St. Joseph schools track coach receives Peace and Justice Award

IC photo by Christine Young

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Javier Chavez is honored with a Peace and Justice Award. He started with nothing and is now giving back to the community.

OGDEN - Javier Chavez is a track star, a coach, a restaurant owner and a humanitarian, who was awarded the Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Award for his keen sense of business at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center March 26. He also was recently honored by the Ogden Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for the scholarships and other support he has provided to area schools and students.

"I had nothing when I came here and now it is my turn to give back," he said.

Chavez said his greatest honor was in 2001 when he was inducted into Weber State University's Hall of Fame for his track and field career.

He was born in Mexico, the second of 12 children, and grew up on a farm in Zacatecas. A coach from Brigham Young University saw him perform and encouraged him to come to Utah; he arrived in 1977 on a full-ride track scholarship to Weber State.

After graduating in 1984, he made Ogden his home. He met his wife, Amada, got married and had four children but he was laid off from work for a medical reason.

"I had nothing," said Chavez. "It was at that time I opened the first of my five restaurants. It only had 10 tables. My wife and my children helped at the restaurant, and my oldest child was only 11 years old. My children would see other children playing and said it was not fair. But I told them one day they would thank me. My father said the most important things in life are hard work, good morals and an education. And that is what I have taught my children. Three of them have graduated from college. My youngest is a senior at St. Joseph Catholic High School."

Chavez has been the track and cross country coach at Saint Joseph middle and high schools since 1998, when his son, Javier, Jr., asked him if he would coach. "I was delighted to take over the position," said Chavez, who has been volunteering his time ever since. "I love all the kids, but my greatest pleasure has been watching my own children break school records. I was very happy to help out and continue my own running."

His daughter Amada ran track and cross country for St. Joseph High School and Weber State University, and is now helping him coach at the high school. She said Chavez was a very good coach and always pushed her to be better. "It helped me be a good runner in college, especially coming from a small high school," said Amada. "He believed in me and that made me not be afraid." Now she joins him and Lisa Reed in helping the team work hard so they believe in themselves, she added, "That way we can run against 5A schools and be successful."

"Javier and I have coached together a long time. We each have different strengths," said Reed. "He motivates the kids and is dedicated to and supportive of St. Joseph High School. I am honored to coach with him."

In 2008, Chavez' youngest daughter, Andrea, as a sophomore was the 1A State Athlete of the Year for St. Joseph High School.

St. Joseph Catholic High School girls cross country teams have taken state four times and the track teams have been the state champions twice. "The key is they are very athletic, persistent and they believe they can do it," said Chavez. "They work hard and they believe in Lisa Reed, who coaches with us. I think if you believe in someone, that makes a difference and they show they can do it."