Ygnacio "Nacho" Provencio Villaverde Jr., passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in the comfort of his home, on August 24, 2022. Nacho was born in Superior, Arizona to Ygnacio and Jessie Villaverde, on July 9, 1936.  He recently celebrated his 86th birthday.

Growing up in Superior, or as Nacho would say, "God's Country," he kept busy with several hobbies. If he wasn't working at the corner drugstore or shining the Miner's shoes for a nickel at the Top Hat, he would be with his Dad, Tata Mac, promoting upcoming fights. Nacho began training and boxing in the ring himself. He fought his way up and became a Golden Glove Champion. He was proud of that title, but not as proud as the day his Dad was inducted into the Hispanic Hall of Fame for boxing.

When football season came around, a young Nacho looked forward to helping the SHS football players on the sidelines with tape or water during their home games. He learned about football from watching his elders and idolized one in particular, Gilbert Gonzales, who went on to play football for the University of Arizona. After one of Gil's U of A games, they interviewed him, and Gil mentioned Ygnacio (who was now a SHS football player) as a talented player to watch on the field. That interview came out in the Tucson paper and he became a die-hard U of A fan because of Gil.

Football was Ygnacio's favorite sport and by the time he was a Senior, he was a 130 lb., starting left half-back for the Panthers. In the opening game of the 1954 season, they faced a strong Florence team, each team fought hard, but neither scored. In the second game, the Panthers trotted over Peoria, 30-0. Nacho made 4 touchdowns to lead the Panther's scoring. The Panthers went on to capture the Class B Championships, by defeating the Thatcher Eagles, 25-6, in their last home game of the season, which also was the school's first Homecoming celebration for Superior High School. During halftime, they crowned the first-ever Homecoming King and Queen of SHS, Dora Diaz and Ygnacio Villaverde Jr.

What began as childhood friends, playing hide and seek or kick the can, to dancing at the school sock-hops, to Dora becoming a Pom Pom cheerleader and Nacho a football player, then being crowned Superior's first Royalty pair, a true love story was flourishing.

After graduating from SHS in 1955, Ygnacio would earn his football emblem at Palo Verde College in CA, where he played college football for one year. He returned to God's Country and married Dora, his high school sweetheart and they began to start a family.

Ygnacio was a hard worker and always provided for his family. His career started in Superior, working at the smelter, then he worked at the mill, the number 9 until it shut down, and as an electrician at a power plant in the valley. While working for the Magma Copper Company, Nacho enrolled with the American School and successfully completed their Electrician Apprentice Course and was awarded a diploma in October of 1976. Ygnacio retired in 1997 as a valued employee of Magma Copper Company/BHP for more than 39 years, San Manuel plant, as an Electrician Journeyman, Mine Electrical Division, Shop Department. He cherished the friendships he formed throughout his years, as a miner in Superior and in San Manuel.

Nacho was actively involved in his community, he took pride in coaching little league, YMCA basketball leagues, being on the Hall of Fame committee, helping out at the local food bank, making deliveries to families in town. He was always ready to help anyone in need.

Of all the things Nacho was proud of, his greatest accomplishments were his family. The most important roles in his life was being a devoted husband and father. Being married to Dora, the love of his life, for 66 years, being a Dad to his 9 children and the love he had for his grand and great-grandchildren.  He stressed good grades, encouraged perfect attendance, the importance of being in school clubs, participating heavily in sports and volunteering in your community. He enjoyed traveling with his wife to watch school functions and sporting events.

He loved Superior, God's Country, he bled black and orange and was proud to be a Panther.  Ygnacio celebrated the day he was inducted into the SHS Hall of Fame in 2011, it was a monumental moment, because his legacy will forever be etched in SHS history.

Many say he will be remembered for his treasury of jokes, his entertaining stories, his quick wit and great sense of humor. Others admired the man he was, not only to his friends, but especially to his family. Besides the legacy Nacho has created, everything he's taught, the life he lived, all of his stories will live on. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die and Ygnacio P Villaverde Jr., will forever be a Superior legend. Long live the Champ!

Ygnacio was preceded in death by his daughter Angie, his parents Ygnacio and Jessie Villaverde, sister Frances SantaMaria and brothers Porky and Johnny Villaverde. He is survived by his brothers Tony (MaryAnn) and Bobby; sisters Lydia Casillas and Betty Vasquez (Manuel), his wife Dora Villaverde and their 8 children, Rosanna, Sport (Cathy), Anna, Debbie (Froylan), Dora (Joe), Vince (Molly), Angela (Anthony), Billie Jo (Joe), 41 grand/great/great-great grandchildren and one due in October.