[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 61 (Tuesday, May 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
TRIBUTE HONORING ROBERT PACHECO ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM 
        THE ACADEMIC PROFESSION IN THE HARLANDALE SCHOOL SYSTEM

                                 ______


                           HON. FRANK TEJEDA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 1994

  Mr. TEJEDA. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed my privilege to honor a 
distinguished citizen of my constituency, Mr. Robert Pacheco, on the 
occasion of his retirement as principal of Harlandale High School in 
San Antonio. Prior to his service at Harlandale High School, Mr. 
Pacheco promoted the education of youth by serving as an elementary 
instructor of fifth grade students at both Stonewall Elementary and 
Flanders Elementary schools in the 1960's. He led efforts in community 
education and student outreach while employed at Sanyo, Inc. from 1966 
to 1971. Mr. Pacheco served as vice-principal at Harlandale High School 
from 1971 to 1973, principal at Leal Middle School from 1973 to 1981, 
and principal at Harlandale High School from 1981 to his retirement 
this month.
  Through those many years, Mr. Pacheco served young people and their 
education with dedication and strong purpose, but his service to the 
community did not stop at the classroom door. He aggressively and 
imaginatively sought ways to combat community problems such as poverty, 
crime, unemployment, and despair.
  Like many south Texans, Mr. Pacheco grew up in poverty. His father, 
whom he credits as influencing his interest in an education career, was 
a professional baseball player and one of the first students to attend 
a one-room school house of the post-mission education era in Texas. At 
an early age, Robert Pacheco was interested in sports and developed his 
enthusiasm into enjoyable community service opportunities with the city 
parks and recreation department. He relied on a partial athletic 
scholarship and endured the financial and personal sacrifices that are 
necessary to obtain higher education. He served in the military and 
once again enjoyed baseball through the special services baseball team 
while assigned to the 124th Signal Corps in Italy. Robert always knew 
that becoming an educator was his ultimate career goal but he never 
lost sight of his desire to help those who need it most. He was one of 
Father John W. Yanta's warriors against poverty, helping organize 
neighboring councils in all the poverty areas of San Antonio.

  In fact, Robert Pacheco has a unique gift for uniting his two goals: 
reducing poverty and promoting education. He understands that education 
is the key to unlocking the shackles of poverty in society. I fully 
agree with Robert Pacheco's own words: ``Education is basic to any 
improvement in the social and economic development of people.''
  Among his numerous achievements in education, Robert Pacheco created 
SOS, School on Saturday, Strengthening Our Students, and developed a 
discipline/attendance model resulting in increased student attendance 
and reduced behavioral problems. He started a system of dual college 
credit classes between Harlandale High School and Palo Alto College on 
the high school campus and created a curriculum center to enhance 
program development. During his career, he always believed that the 
many student dropouts from disadvantaged families and communities had a 
tremendous potential that was needlessly lost. He fought to reduce the 
dropout rate through community involvement, student encouragement, and 
scholastic reward for achievement. With these innovations and many 
others, Robert Pacheco left his mark on the educational system in the 
San Antonio area.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation can be proud of educators and community 
leaders like Robert Pacheco. He epitomizes the truly American call to 
service, a compassion for the struggle of youth, and a work ethic we 
should all share. Generations of San Antonians have benefited from his 
vision of education. Fortunately, the innovative programs he leaves in 
place will assist future generations of San Antonians. I wish to salute 
him today and give him a well-deserved thank you from his community and 
this Nation.

                          ____________________