[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 120 (Sunday, August 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                E X T E N S I O N   O F   R E M A R K S


          TRIBUTE TO FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MANUEL J. GONZALEZ

                                 ______


                            HON. DON EDWARDS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Sunday, August 21, 1994

  Mr. EDWARDS of California. Mr. Speaker, it is fitting on this day, as 
the House prepares to consider an omnibus crime bill that includes 
funding for new FBI agents, to pay tribute to an outstanding law 
enforcement officer, FBI Assistant Director Manuel J. Gonzalez, who 
died earlier this month.
  At the time of his death, Manny Gonzalez had reached the highest 
levels of FBI leadership, making history as the first agent of Hispanic 
origin to be named Assistant Director of the FBI.
  Mr. Gonzalez was a true law enforcement professional. He began his 
career as an officer with the New York City Police Department, where he 
served with distinction for 5 years, attaining the rank of detective.
  Mr. Gonzalez joined the FBI in 1973. He served in the Philadelphia, 
New York, and Miami field offices. In December 1983, he was appointed 
Chief Investigator for the President's Commission on Organized Crime 
and later transferred to FBI headquarters where he served in the 
organized crime section. While at headquarters he served as an 
inspector-in-place and as ombudsman for the FBI. In January 1993, he 
was promoted to Senior Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Miami 
office.
  In October 1993, Mr. Gonzalez was appointed Assistant Director for 
Personnel. On July 27 of this year, he was awarded the FBI Medal for 
Meritorious Achievement.
  Mr. Speaker, the anticrime legislation we pass would mean nothing to 
the safety and well-being of our Nation's citizens were it not for law 
enforcement officers like Manny Gonzalez who, day after day, do their 
jobs to enforce these laws aggressively, fairly and without bias. I 
urge all my colleagues to pause for a moment during these hectic days 
to quietly remember the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of Manny 
Gonzalez.
  Mr. Speaker, contrary to the TV image, the life of an FBI agent is 
full of stress and hard, sometimes tedious, often frustrating work. It 
is also hard on the families, and Mr. Gonzalez is survived by his wife 
Sherry and three children. They too sacrificed, and they too deserve 
our deepest sympathy and gratitude.
  The FBI today is a far better institution than it was 20 years ago 
and 10 years ago and 5 years ago. Part of the reason for that was the 
efforts of Manny Gonzalez.

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