The Deathbed Secret: How Doroteo Arango Became Pancho Villa, Told by His Grandson, Maclovio Villa

Описание: In this rare and intimate long-form conversation, Maclovio Villa, the direct son of Francisco Hipólito Villa and grandson of General Francisco “Pancho” Villa, sits down with Elevate El Paso to share family history, lost stories, and the true legacy of one of the most controversial and iconic figures in the Mexican Revolution.

For the first time on camera, Maclovio discusses the myths, truths, secrets, and emotional realities behind the Villa name — including the legendary deathbed name-transfer, Villa’s relationship with El Paso, the $50,000 story with The Popular Dry Goods, the mystery of Villa’s stolen head, and the new DNA project that will reveal the true lineage of the Villa family.

This interview is history from the bloodline — powerful, human, and deeply personal.

⭐ CREDITS

🎙 Guest: Maclovio Villa
🎙 Host: Caleb Lara – Elevate El Paso

🎥 Production: James Avery Pleasant II
📍 Location: Chuco Cigars / Casa 1910 Lounge – Special thanks to Wesley
📅 Interview Arranged By: Cindy Medina
📚 Genealogy Support & Research: Brandon Bride

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who made this historic conversation possible.

⭐ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Caleb apologizes for his Spanish
00:39 – “If we remove the Villa name… who are you?”
00:49 – Maclovio explains his lineage: grandson of Pancho Villa
01:12 – His work: altruism, rehabilitation centers, community service
01:32 – Hero? Villain? Or something more complex?
02:23 – The Robin Hood comparison
03:07 – The political climate that created the Revolution
04:15 – Would Villa be proud of Mexico today?
04:59 – The burden of the Villa name
05:30 – Childhood rejection due to the surname
06:14 – How Americans perceive Pancho Villa
07:14 – Recognition worldwide: Madrid, Rome, and beyond
07:38 – Villa’s connection to El Paso: Zarco mine, Segundo Barrio, roosters
08:14 – The two Francisco Villas — the original bandit
09:01 – Deathbed moment: the name “Francisco Villa” is passed
09:27 – Doroteo Arango becomes the Pancho Villa
09:59 – The genealogy book: “Mysteries of the Revolution”
10:37 – Why Doroteo left ordinary life for the Revolution
11:06 – Villa’s military genius and strategy
11:51 – The mystery of the stolen head
12:54 – Villa’s true legacy: values, loyalty, humility
13:41 – The character traits inherited by the Villa family
14:13 – “No more revolutions today”
15:21 – Northern identity: Durango, Chihuahua, Parral
16:12 – Governor Villa: building 50 schools in under a month
17:19 – Why some historians attack Villa
17:51 – Villa’s love of ice cream in downtown El Paso
18:32 – Standing by your principles
19:01 – The Henry O. Flipper rumor
19:30 – DNA ancestry and misconceptions
20:17 – The pawn shop “Pancho Villa finger” myth
20:46 – Villa and The Popular Dry Goods: the $50,000 loan
21:26 – Repaying with a railcar full of silver and gold
22:27 – The U.S. influence on Villa’s rise and fall
23:13 – How politics betrayed Villa
23:40 – The government forced to negotiate with him
24:12 – Why Villa was assassinated
24:42 – The secret DNA project
25:32 – Invitation to the December 5 reveal in Mexico City
27:04 – “A Villa promises to return”
27:14 – What Caleb didn’t ask
27:52 – Villa’s lasting spirit: “Villa lives within many of us”
28:53 – Closing remarks and gratitude
29:07 – Thanks to Casa 1910 / Chuco Cigars