[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 39 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT L. OZUNA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 1999

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a tribute 
to Robert L. Ozuna, who was Chief Executive Officer of New Bedford 
Panoramex Corporation in Upland, California. Mr. Ozuna died Saturday, 
March 6, 1999 at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina, 
California. He was 69.
  Robert Ozuna was the oldest of four children born in Miami, Arizona 
to Mexican-American parents. In 1940, after his father's early death, 
his family moved to East Los Angeles where he grew up with his mother, 
brother and two sisters. Robert was required to seek steady work at an 
early age to assist the family financially.
  Robert Ozuna emerged as one of the leading Mexican-American 
entrepreneurs in Southern California as Founder and President of New 
Bedford Panoramex Corporation (NBP). He gained his business experience 
on the job and he gained his engineering education by attending night 
school in the California community and junior college system.
  In 1966, Mr. Ozuna began to build his company with a second mortgage 
on his residence, a few electrician's hand tools, hard work, and 
entrepreneurial instincts into the thriving electronics manufacturing 
business it is today in Upland, California. NBP engages in the design, 
development, and manufacturing of electronic communication systems and 
remote monitoring systems for its primary client, the United States 
Government.
  Mr. Ozuna's hard work and dedication were recognized through such 
honors as the U.S. Department of Transportation's Minority Business 
Enterprise Award for 1987 and again for 1991. He received the Air 
Traffic Control Association Chairman's Citation of Merit Award in 1994. 
He was an active member of the California Chamber of Commerce for 
various cities and a founder of Casa De Rosa Annual Golf Tournament, 
which he instituted to raise funds for the Rancho de Los Ninos 
Orphanage in BajaMar, Mexico.
  As industrious as Mr. Ozuna was in business, he was equally involved 
sharing his prosperity with many philanthropic activities in his 
community. He was the sponsor of many events in the Hispanic 
neighborhood where he grew up, and he was a founding director in the 
East Los Angeles Sheriff's Youth Athletic Association, which promotes 
educational, athletic and drug awareness programs for more than 60,000 
youths in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area.
  Robert Ozuna is remembered by his employees at New Bedford Panoramex 
Corporation as a handsome man who had a passion for life. His concern 
for his employees and their families along with his abundant generosity 
to them was always present.
  Robert Ozuna was married for 35 years to Rosemary, who passed away in 
November of 1998. He is survived by his mother, Amelia Ozuna; his sons, 
Steven Ozuna and Jeff Dominelli; his daughters, Nancy DeSilva and Lisa 
Jarrett; his sisters, Lillian Gomez and Vera Venegas; and his brother 
Tony Ozuna. He also leaves 8 grandchildren.
  A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 12th at 12:00 noon, 
at St. Gregory's Church, 13935 E. Telegraph Rd., Whittier, CA. The 
burial will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
  Mr. Speaker, Robert Ozuna's life epitomized much that is the American 
dream. He rose from economically humble roots to found and head a well-
respected electronics manufacturing firm, and he gave back to his 
community and to those around him, helping to create a better future 
for others through his life. America is a better place because of 
Robert Ozuna, and he will be sorely missed.

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