Today, we’d like to introduce you to Richard Escobedo.
Hi Richard, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It all began back in 1997 when my 1982 John F. Kennedy High School class ring was stolen from my home in San Antonio, Texas. The very next day, I went out looking for it everywhere I could. I was devastated because I loved my high school days, especially being in the Mighty Rocket Band all 4 years.
I remember when my mom & stepdad took me to order my class ring at Zales Jewelry store, and the salesman said: “Sorry, Mr. Escobedo, but nothing else fits.” My class ring was my pride & joy. To this day, I continue to search for it. Unfortunately, I have not come across it. Instead, I’d see others and think to myself, if only owners knew theirs were being sold! So, one day, it hit me!
Why not start buying those I saw and simply return them to their rightful owners? And so it became a hobby turned into a mission. Buying pre-owned class rings and returning them to their rightful owners. And for the record, I never ask for anything in return. I do this to “Pay it Forward” in hopes that one day someone will call me and say they found mine!
In 2019, I started a Facebook group called “Class Rings Bought to Reunite to Rightful Owners.” It has grown to over 40,000+ members and continues to grow daily. Buying “strangers” class rings gives me relief that I’m saving theirs from being melted, destroyed, and gone forever. I say 1 class ring at a time. Having such a great number of members and as it grows daily.
It takes a Team to keep our group in order. With continuous behind the scenes work is what keeps our group thriving, and I know I couldn’t do it all without these hard working ladies.
This is our Leadership Team:
Admins: Richard Escobedo & Pamela Jane Irene Saunders
Moderators: Lisa Cady Lannom, Colleen Worley Stump, Martha De Leon, Sonya Wilson & Marie Shannon-Fee.
My motto: while I search for mine, I’m shopping for others. I always tell my members never to give up and to have hope! To this day, I’ve reunited over 185 class rings with people from all over the United States and as far as Hawaii. In my Facebook group, we share real stories of people who get their class rings back. Our purpose is we buy class rings, search for owners, and once we find them, we share both our journeys on how they lost it or how it went missing, stories of the buyer on what they went through to locate each owner, and we post pictures of their class ring.
We also provide a fun atmosphere by posting Questionnaires & Polls for everyone to participate. We also provide Year Albums so they can also share their own story about their class rings’ descriptions and pictures. Money comes and goes. But to me, a class ring is special to only one person. It’s personalized just for them. I’ve spent over $4000-$5000 buying class rings out of my pocket in over 10 years! But, no matter what I spend, it’s the reactions and the Smiles I get from owners are more rewarding to me and to see them happy that they’re getting it back.
Just yesterday, May 6, 2024, I found an owner! I bought her class ring online and received it yesterday. I started searching for her, and within 15 minutes, I found Elisa. She lives in Houston, Texas. Her story was that she had gone to the mall, and someone broke into her car, stealing her gym bag where her rings were. She said it was stolen last year. When I spoke to her, I told her that most of the owners live out of state, so I usually mail it out to them. Elisa & I both live in Texas, and I told her it would be awesome if she drove to San Antonio and picked it up. So we can meet.
She then responded, “That could be a possibility!” I have returned so many class rings by mail. But hand-delivering them is more special than being able to meet them in person. And from Texas! I’ve had a handful of owners who live all around Texas come meet me. One from Beaumont, TX, another from College Station, TX, another from Pampa, TX, and hopefully Elisa from Houston, TX. There have been so many different stories from owners that I’d really like to share. But here’s two for now.
Pat Hukill graduated in 1979 from Marietta High School in Marietta, Ohio. He said the weekend after he graduated, his parents took him on a camping trip as his graduation gift. One night, he remembers going to take his bath, taking off his class ring, and placing it on top of the soap dish in the shower. He said he forgot he had taken it off until he realized it wasn’t on his finger. He ran back to get it, but it was gone. Forty years later, I gave Pat a phone call to give him the great news!
He said he was shocked after all these years that it was still around. He said he made a special road trip to show his mother, and when she saw it, she cried. His mother is in her late 90’s and said she couldn’t believe it. Another story: Raul Cerda is from my hometown. He graduated in 1959 from South San Antonio High School, “Home of the Bobcats”. One day, I went to a local antique shop. I remember seeing a shiny blue stone from afar on a jewelry case.
When I saw what school it was from, I immediately thought I needed to buy it. Because it was from a high school that I would’ve attended, but we moved to the west side of town. So, being that I went to school with friends back in the day, I thought maybe it would belong to someone I knew or a family relative. So, I bought it. I shared my story with the owner of the shop, and she was kind enough to lower the price a little. Once I got home, I started my search on Facebook.
I was in luck because one of my mutual friends knew Raul’s daughter. I made contact with my friend Lupe, who used to work with Pat Cerda, Raul’s oldest daughter. I told Lupe I was 100% sure it had belonged to her father. So, Lupe organized a Surprise meeting with Pat. Once I surprised her with her dad’s class ring, she began to cry. She told us that her dad passed away in 2013. His story goes: when he was in high school, he was on the Championship baseball team. He made All-state.
When he was going to graduate, he asked his parents for a class ring, and his mother slapped him and said, “How dare you ask for a ring?” when we were too poor. So, when her father told her the story, she had just graduated herself. She found a job and started working, and when she got her first paycheck, she ordered him his long-awaited class ring. And she made sure it said “ALL-STATE.” She doesn’t know how it went missing but says it’s now in her hands, and she will keep it safe forever. RIP Raul Cerda.
Over 185 personal stories will touch your heart. They have mine! And I will continue my hobby/mission for a long time. One class ring at a time. In my Facebook group, I also have incorporated free drawings/raffles by giving away stickers & magnets with class ring logos, and sometimes t-shirts with class rings that have been reunited as the design (like my t-shirt)! These drawings are just for fun.
I also have a YouTube channel where I upload all videos on each class ring I’ve returned, along with miscellaneous videos of class ring stories about the good and the bad aspects of my journey. Since 2019 launching my Facebook group, I’ve been able to reach out to many people all over the USA who’ve lost their class ring. Social media has been very helpful along with alumni groups.
I continue to purchase and reunite class rings and save them! Pay it forward: I hope to inspire others to get out and purchase a pre-owned class ring to simply return to rightful owners. It’s such a great thing to do for others. Their reactions are priceless. I will continue my hobby/mission in hopes of finding mine and saving others.
To those people whose class ring went missing or got stolen, never give up, have HOPE! Cause you’ll never know. One day, I might give you a call, but I found it!
Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you overcome?
Starting my hobby/mission has been kinda a struggle, being that I’m spending my own money to purchase these class rings out of my own pocket. I do not get help from anyone or anybody. But, even when I’m low on funds, I manage to save money to continue what I started ESPECIALLY when I see a class ring for sale I can afford. I get so excited.
I always tell my members in my Facebook group that if they’re going to buy a class ring, they only spend what they can because every single class ring means something to its owner. No matter how much it costs you. Just like everything in life, you have to manage your finances. And your desires. But, I just feel if I don’t buy a class ring, it might get melted and gone for good. Money isn’t that important.
I’d rather save class rings. My health has challenged me sometimes to stay seated at my computer when I’ve been searching day and night. But, it’s so much fun, I’ve been called a “Ring Detective”. Or the “Class Ring Whisperer”. Being I have diabetes and am on disability, I’m on a limited budget. I don’t know. I just make do with what I have.
I’m also legally blind in one eye. But my ophthalmologist says I have 20/20 on my good eye! Been blind since I was 2 years old. I’m 60 now. This won’t stop me from continuing what I love to do. With everything in life, we have struggles. But we manage as best as we can.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Retired Teacher. I worked for over 30+ years in Early Childhood Education. I worked with 3 & 4 year olds. I was also a Trainer in teaching Teachers how to make Teacher Made Toys. I presented workshops to teachers all over the world.
The highlight of my career was when I was accepted to present a workshop in Anaheim, California, for the NAEYC/National Association for the Education of Young Children. A national conference in 2004. It was a standing room with only over 500 teachers. I have also presented workshops locally, state-wide, and nationally in my 30+ year career.
I used to make creative, Developmentally Appropriate teacher-made toys. In 2009, I was awarded “Trainer of the Year” by my local chapter, SAAEYC, San Antonio Association for the Education of Young Children. One of my Directors referred me to “The Toy Guy.” I was always creating never-before-seen Preschool Toys for my kiddos to learn from.
In 2013, I had to retire due to a leg injury and a blind eye. I loved working with preschool children. I miss it.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
Books: not much into reading. But I do like to look through magazines.
Apps: just your normal game apps and social apps.
Podcasts on YouTube, mostly. It can vary in different interests. (depending on my mood).
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/classringsbought2reunite
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9AvvHpTy5ScsKpIWn5f4qA
