[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO SYLVAN RODRIGUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DeLAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 1999

  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, hypothetical quandaries always elicit 
interesting answers. Over two hundred years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote 
that if he had to choose to have a government without the press or the 
press without a government, he would without hesitation prefer the 
latter situation. This position reflects that great founder's 
understanding of the important role of journalism in the American 
experiment. Sylvan Rodriguez also understands this role and has 
dedicated his life to making both journalism and the country better 
together.
  Sylvan Rodriguez is a giant in the world of Houston broadcasting. 
Since 1977, he has graced the city's airwaves with crack reporting on 
politics and a special focus on space operations. His coverage of the 
space shuttle program and the exposure from the tragic Challenger 
explosion opened up many doors for him, including a stint as a Los 
Angeles correspondent for ABC News. His expertise has been sought by 
David Brinkley for the This Week program, by Ted Koppel for Nightline, 
by Peter Jennings for ABC World News Tonight and for Good Morning 
America.
  Such a lion of the press did not start at the top however. Rather, 
Sylvan Rodriguez is an American success story whose love for journalism 
struck in early age and was nurtured over time. This boyhood love for 
the industry matured and was honed while attending the University of 
Texas at Austin where he tirelessly scribed for several newspapers and 
a wire service. At this time, his appetite for big news was wetted by 
covering the powers that were in Washington as an intern for the United 
States Information Agency where he learned the ins-and-outs of the 
White House, the Pentagon, the State Department and Capitol Hill. This 
foundation was bolstered by experience as a reporter and photographer 
covering state and national politics in San Antonio and Houston.
  But the passion for reporting was not all consuming for Sylvan 
Rodriguez. Throughout his life, he has understood that a balance must 
be made between giving and taking. He has given much to the community 
and to his profession to match all the opportunities he earned for 
himself. While his list of philanthropic activities is a book long, he 
has given particular attention to foundations that give opportunities 
to children and fight cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Tourette Syndrome 
and Cerebral Palsey. A great example to any budding journalist, he is a 
founding member of the Houston Association of Hispanic Media 
Professionals.
  Journalism has been described as an ability to meet the challenge of 
filling space. This definition does not only apply to column inches or 
airtime. It also touches on the space within ourselves where our heart 
and love of country should rest. Through his dedication to his 
profession and to others, Sylvan Rodriguez has filled all of these 
spaces for many years. Today, it is my honor to ask Congress to pay 
tribute to Sylvan Rodriguez for being such a hero to journalism and to 
the community.

                          ____________________