"Big Cat" National Secretary and a Houston Police officer for 24 years and a former professional baseball player, died of a heart attack. He was 47. Big Cat died in his car on his way home from his job at the Southeast Command Station.

Big Cat was born in Waco, where he began playing baseball in Little League. His team went to the Little League World Series, according to Big Cat's wife, Alice "Lisa" Vargas Todd.  Big Cat also starred as a pitcher in baseball at Richfield High School in Waco, she said. Shortly after graduating from Richfield in 1972, Big Cat was signed by the San Diego Padres. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and pitched for a farm team, the Lodi, Calif., Dodgers.

Truman, a childhood friend of Big Cat's said that during Big Cat's baseball years, he came to Houston during every off season and rode with Truman in his police car. "From the first day he rode with me," Truman said, "and every time after that, he told me he wanted to be a police officer."

In 1977, an arm injury forced Big Cat to retire from baseball. He returned to Houston and graduated from the Houston Police Academy. Big Cat worked as a patrolman until 1982, when he was transferred to the vice division to work as an undercover officer. In 1998, Big Cat returned to patrol work. Big Cat is survived by his wife and son, Michael D. Todd, both of Friendswood; a daughter, Samantha S. Todd of Mertens; and a sister, Joyce Johnson of Edgewood.

Los Carnales-La Familia will never be the same again without him ---- 

Forever Our Secretary!!!!!