Retired UISD Assistant Principal Turns Author to Share Father’s Inspiring Story as Boxer and Attorne

When life knocks you down, get back up and keep answering the bell. That is the message retired United ISD educator and author Selina Gomez brought to students during a special homecoming at the Alexander High School 9th Grade Campus library, where she shared her first book, From Gloves to Gavel, and her late father’s example of determination, education and service.

The biography honors Santiago “Jimmy” Sandoval, a Laredo native whose journey took him from the boxing ring to the courtroom. Raised in the El Cuatro neighborhood, Sandoval became a Golden Gloves champion and later an attorney, carrying the discipline and perseverance he developed as a fighter into his education, career and family life.

For Gomez, the visit was an opportunity to return to a familiar campus with a new way of reaching students. A former social studies teacher who retired after 34 years with UISD, she spent 10 years as an assistant principal at Alexander’s ninth grade campus.

“It’s so good to be home,” Gomez said.

Her return connected two important parts of her life, her work as an educator and her desire to preserve her father’s legacy. Through his story, she hopes students recognize that their beginnings do not have to limit their ambitions and that education can help them build a future beyond the challenges they face.

“I’m going to talk about education and how important it is in their lives, and more than anything, I’m going to tell them never to give up, keep on fighting,” Gomez said.

The idea for the book began after Sandoval died two years ago. While writing a remembrance card, Gomez reflected on his life as a boxer and the determination that guided him long after his final fight. What began as a daughter’s tribute gradually became a book about facing hardship and finding the strength to move forward.

Gomez said the connection between boxing and life shaped her writing. People face different struggles, including illness, grief and loss, but her father’s response to difficulty remained consistent.

“You always move forward. You never quit, you never give up. You always keep fighting,” she said. 

Gomez describes how Sandoval boxed for seven years, earning Golden Gloves titles in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions before turning professional. His last fight was in 1967. His ambitions, however, extended beyond the ring, and education helped him begin another chapter as an attorney.

“To him, education was everything,” Gomez said. “From a boxer, he became a lawyer.”

That belief became a lasting influence on his daughter. Gomez said her father consistently emphasized education, helping inspire her own career in the classroom and school administration. She has carried that same message into raising her two children, who are pursuing college studies in radiation therapy and biomedical science.

The author visit also supported the library’s efforts to connect students with books, writers and stories that speak to their lives. Jessica Morales, librarian for Alexander High School’s ninth grade and main campuses, said the event was part of the library’s October TeenTober activities.

“We want to expose our students to authors and literacy,” Morales said, adding that the goal is to “promote reading, a love of reading, and a lifelong love of learning.”

For Morales, Sandoval’s story offers a meaningful example for students who may question whether their dreams are possible because of their environment or where they come from. His roots in a Laredo neighborhood and his accomplishments in both boxing and law bring the message of perseverance close to home.

Gomez hopes the book also encourages young readers to think about the people they consider champions. While athletes and social media personalities often draw attention, she wants students to recognize the strength of everyday people who work hard, care for others and continue through adversity.

“I think a true champion is a person who continues to fight in their lives,” Gomez said.

Completing the book required persistence of her own. Gomez spent approximately two years gathering her thoughts and writing her father’s story. She self-published through Amazon in late August, navigating formatting and publishing requirements that she described as among the most difficult parts of the process.

Writing also became part of her grieving process. Gomez said readers have described the book as emotional and inspiring, and she hopes its message offers comfort to others experiencing difficult times.

The reward, she said, has been the opportunity to share a story that matters deeply to her family while offering encouragement to others.

“The best part is I get to tell my father’s story,” Gomez said.

From Gloves to Gavel is available for purchase through Amazon.