[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF MIGUEL PEREZ: AN OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL AND VALUED 
                            COMMUNITY MEMBER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 9, 1997

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a special 
gentleman, Miguel Perez, who has distinguished himself through 
continuous dedication and hard work for the Latino community. Mr. Perez 
will be honored by the Bergen County Hispanic-American Advisory 
Commission on October 16, 1997 at the board of freeholders in 
Hackensack, NJ.
  Throughout his long career, Mr. Perez has been an educator, role 
model, and strong voice for the downtrodden. He entered the United 
States as a refugee at an early age. He didn't speak a word of English, 
but by the time he reached high school, he became the sports editor of 
the Miami High Times. This was the beginning of a long and illustrious 
career in the media. Mr. Perez went on to become editor of two college 
newspapers, including, ``The Falcon Times'' of Miami Dade Community 
College, which received the Pacemaker Award, given to top six college 
newspapers in the nation. He was also founder and first editor of the 
Good Times of Florida International University, where he graduated in 
1974 with a bachelor's degree in political science. Mr. Perez continued 
his passion and advocacy for those who are ignored, misunderstood, and 
victims of discrimination, serving as a bridge to non-Latinos. 
``Teaching important lessons about our community,'' stated Latin New 
York magazine, ``and tries to instill a sense of pride in Latinos.''
  Mr. Perez's commitment to serving his community extends beyond his 
journalism. In 1979 he was instrumental in helping police persuade 
three Spanish speaking gunmen to release two dozen hostages held in a 
Brooklyn supermarket. Two years later he spent three months disguised 
as an illegal alien and wrote a four-part series for the Daily News on 
sweatshops: ``The new slavery,'' for which he was awarded the Public 
Service Award of the Public Relations Society of America, New York 
chapter. Upon graduation from Columbia, he went to work for the Daily 
News as one of the few English-language Latino columnists in the 
country at that time. In 1982 Perez won the Mike Berger Award, 
considered the top print journalism award in New York. This year he won 
a fellowship from the Newspaper Association of America to study 
interactive media at the prestigious Poytner Institute in St. 
Petersburg, FL.
  A journalist more than twenty-four years, born in Havana, Cuba, 47 
years ago, Mr. Perez has been covering the New York metropolitan area's 
Latino community relentlessly. He epitomizes excellence in community 
service, and it is an honor and a pleasure to have him residing in my 
district. I am certain that my colleagues will rise with me and honor 
this remarkable individual.