[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SALUTE TO FAMILIA DIAZ MEXICAN RESTAURANT

                                 ______


                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 26, 1996

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a family restaurant 
in my district that is celebrating six decades of success--a family 
restaurant that never forgot the importance of family.
  Familia Diaz Mexican Restaurant, now a fixture on 10th Street in 
Santa Paula, was established in 1936 by two people who had just $500 in 
savings and a dream in their hearts. Jose and Josepha ``Pepa'' Diaz 
opened their cantina, originally called ``Las Quince Letras,'' and 
resolved that through hard work and determination they would succeed.
  While Jose worked the front, making conversation with faithful 
customers who, over the years, would become almost as close as family, 
Pepa would be in the kitchen turning out her famous recipies, sometimes 
sending daughter Vickie to the corner store to buy the ingredients for 
a particular dish.
  Word spread and the restaurant grew. In the 1950's, their son, Tony, 
came into the business and built on the progress his parents had made. 
For many years, Tony's wife, Cecila, and his sister, Nora, almost 
single-handedly turned out the restaurant's famous tamales.
  In 1980, when Tony was celebrating his 30th year in the restaurant, 
he was joined in the business by two of his children, Sandra and Dan. 
This was so very appropriate, because in Familia Diaz' 60 years of 
business, business has always been deeply rooted in family.
  While the number of fast food restaurants turning out food that is 
precooked, prepackaged, and preheated continues to proliferate, it is 
refreshing to know there are still places to go where food is prepared, 
the way it is at Familia Diaz.
  I would like to wish the Diaz family a sincere congratulations on 
this happy 60th anniversary and best wishes for the future. I know that 
as long as this restaurant maintains a healthy supply of its most 
precious commodity--family--it will continue to enjoy great success.

                          ____________________