[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 58 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REGARDING: MR. B AND SOUTHMOST COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2000

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in 
commending one of the pillars of my South Texas community, Mr. Raul 
Besteiro, as he is recognized by the University of Texas at the 
Brownsville (UT-B) Texas Southmost College as a ``Distinguished 
Alumni'' on Friday, May 12.
  Mr. B, as Raul Besteiro is affectionately known throughout South 
Texas, is an educator with the biggest heart I have ever known. We have 
known each other nearly 20 years. He is a gentle and respected friend 
who shares my love for all things in South Texas. First as an educator, 
then in a second career as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of 
the Port of Brownsville, Mr. B has energetically served the people in 
the Rio Grande Valley over the course of his life. His work at the Port 
brings an enormous volume of trade through the Valley, bringing jobs to 
our area.
  It is entirely appropriate that Mr. B be chosen for the honor of 
Distinguished Alumnus, for he has dedicated his life to the education 
of young people. He spent the first 33 years of his career in the 
service of the Brownsville Independent School District (BISD), first as 
a teacher, then later as Superintendent. He has remained committed to 
education while in his career as Port Director, offering advice to the 
school district and employees, and even had a school named after him in 
1994. He is a unique educator for the community of Brownsville with the 
example of his life's work.
  The community of Brownsville is lucky to have Raul Besteiro in it. He 
taught us all the meaning of courage and the remarkable nature of human 
will when he faced down cancer in the early 1990s. His most recent 
educational legislative interest, the Brownsville Wetlands Center Act, 
was signed into law in 1994. This important coordination of industry 
and UT-B teaches students how to protect, restore, and maintain the 
fragile ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico region.
  This project--in which Raul Bestiero was a prominent and influential 
player--combines his love of this community, his dedication to 
education, and his vision of a future in which the environmental 
concerns of industry and NAFTA are solved by the people who live in a 
community inspired ever forward by free trade.
  Mr. B is a unique patriot, citizen, and family man, respected by so 
many people because he offers respect to everyone he meets. I ask the 
colleagues to join me in commending Raul Besteiro for the honor of 
indeed being a distinguished alumni of the Brownsville (UT-B) Texas 
Southmost College.

                          ____________________