[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6586-H6587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ABILIO BACA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Congress reflect on the memory 
of my brother, Abilio Baca, of Barstow, California, who passed away 
this morning July 19, 2000, after a heart attack.
  They say a man is measured by the lives he touches. Through the grace 
of God, Abilio touched many lives.
  Born in Las Neutras, New Mexico, Abilio served family and country 
with distinction. Although circumstances didn't permit him to complete 
school, he made an ever-lasting impact and contribution to his family 
and community.
  He served as an E-7 Staff Sergeant in the Army, where he fought in 
the Korean War; served twenty years with the National Guard; worked as 
an Army recruiter; and concluded his career as a Rigger Foreman for the 
Marine Corps Logistics Base.
  Albilio was widely admired by family, friends and colleagues. He was 
hard working, dedicated, committed, disciplined, loving and supporting. 
He was everything one would want in a brother, son, father, husband, 
grandfather and great grandfather.
  Abilio was like a father, coach and mentor to me. He was my oldest 
brother, my friend. He was the father I had after my dad passed away.
  He started me in little league and bought me my first baseball shoes. 
He attended many of my games, and even would bring my parents. I played 
softball at the age of 14, for a team he coached, that was called the 
``gophers'', which won many championships. This was an adult team but 
he had trust and faith in me that I could do it. We won many softball 
league championships in Barstow.
  He coached and ran a semi-pro baseball team, that I played for, the 
Knights of Columbus, that played in San Bernardino and Riverside 
counties.
  We are a semi-pro baseball team in the ``Sunset League'', that won 
numerous championships and he was named coach of the year.
  I was fortunate to play basketball in the City League under this 
coaching.
  He coached me as a child, in my teenage years, and as an adult in 
semi-pro baseball. I developed as an athlete under his leadership and 
guidance.
  Abilio was a devoted Catholic and active at St. Joseph's Catholic 
Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He helped raise money 
for the church through Bingo.
  He helped me on my campaigns locally, Assembly, Senate and the 
Congress.
  His hobbies were jogging and he competed in 5 and 10 K's.
  From Las Neutras, New Mexico, to Barstow, California, Abilio's life 
was dedicated to family, friends and community. His memory lives on in 
our thoughts and prayers. We say ``goodbye. God bless you, we love you, 
we miss you.''
  Abilio is survived by his wife, Barbara Baca; his children, Sabra 
Baca, Mary Arreola, Richard Baca, Patsy Baca, Ronnie Baca, and Brenda 
Guerrero; brothers and sisters, Annie Saiz, Florenio Baca, Lupe Baca, 
Morris Baca, Tanny Baca, Raymond Baca, Joe Baca, and Theresa Perez, 
grandchildren, Mark Nickerson, Paul Arreola, Alex Chavira, Ryan Baca, 
Christina Arreola, Anthony Chavira, Michael Arreola; Daniel Guerrero, 
Brittney Baca, Mathews Baca, Marissa Guerrero, Andrew Baca, and Joshua 
Baca, a great-grandchild, Jocelyn Leigh Nickerson; and by a large 
extended family, who share in the loss.
  Mr. Speaker, I have additional family remembrances I would request be 
printed in the Congressional Record:

       Dad, I remember when you used to come home after work. I 
     was very little. I would wait until you came through the 
     door, and I would run into your arms and you would form your 
     hands like a swing. You would swing me back and forth, making 
     a funny sound while doing this. I really looked forward to 
     that moment.
       After you washed up, Mom always had dinner ready. We would 
     eat as a family and whenever Rick or Tonnie would come to the 
     table with a hat on, all you had to do was look at them. You 
     would say nothing and off came those hats. As we were eating 
     you would always tear a piece of Mom's tortilla to the dogs 
     waiting under you.
       And now when I got my new house, you would bring my mail 
     and always look for the apple you know I had waiting for you 
     in our fruit basket.
       And the early morning phone calls.
       Dad these are memorable days that I will cherish forever. I 
     love you. Your baby daughter, Brenda Guerrero. P.S. Dad, I 
     will still leave that apple there for you.
       As a young child I remember me running to the door so I 
     could see what was in his lunch pail. At the end of his 
     workday, I remember sitting in his lap as a child.
       He taught me how important it was to always go to work on 
     time. Work hard and not to take ``no'' from anyone. He showed 
     me how important family is. He loved us all unconditionally 
     and I will always have the utmost respect for my dad. I love 
     my dad so much and he will truly be missed.--Patsy.
       I remember as a small child growing up. My dad always did 
     his best to give us the things in life that he did not have 
     growing up; he would always put my mom and us kids first, in 
     front of all of his needs. At one time I could remember he 
     had three jobs to make sure we had enough.
       I also remember sitting at the dinner table and seeing a 
     stranger's face at the table. So I would quietly ask my mom, 
     ``who is this person?'' She would say that my dad had met 
     this person and he was down on his luck so my dad offered him 
     to come and eat with us. My dad always showed his love not 
     only to us but also to complete strangers, too.
       As a teenager growing up, I decided to play an instrument. 
     I remember seeing my dad and mom at every concert and parade 
     I was in, how he would travel so many miles to show me his 
     support and love.
       When I was in high school, my dad said he wanted me to 
     graduate and get a good education so I wouldn't have to work 
     as hard as he worked. No matter what I set my goals at, he 
     would always support me to achieve those dreams.
       As an adult getting married and starting a family, my dad 
     was there for every child my wife gave birth to, and how 
     proud he was to find out it was a ``boy.''
       I also remember helping my dad at different church 
     functions, how my dad loved to serve the Lord and how people 
     said ``God Bless you Mr. Baca.''
       After all his services that he has done, I know my dad is 
     finally getting all those

[[Page H6587]]

     ``Blessings.'' I loved my dad as a teenager and I will always 
     love and miss my dad. I love you.--Ronnie.
       What I could recall as if it occurred yesterday as a small 
     child growing up in an environment filled with an abundance 
     of love, honesty, and respect for humanity, this was all 
     bestowed by my mentor and father, Abilio G. Baca.
       One particular incident occurred when I was disciplined for 
     getting out of line with my Dad's father. His last words were 
     ``if you don't ever get anything out of life remember this: 
     never stop showing respect and love for those people who you 
     say are dear and close to you.''
       Dad always wanted us kids to get an education, because he 
     wasn't given that opportunity, so we all did. This meant the 
     world to him, when they announced our names as we graduated 
     in High School and college.
       My father was a very giving individual, and never hesitated 
     to apply ``mi casa es su casa''--my home is your home, and we 
     always had room for our friends to sit at the table and eat.
       When he coached baseball he had team players that mom would 
     make a sack lunch and take time to manage to do some mending 
     on fifteen to twenty baseball uniforms.
       Last but not least there was always room for honesty, 
     integrity and putting 110% at your place of employment.
       I will truly miss my father's presence but he still remains 
     in spirit. His wisdom will be carried from generation to 
     generation.
       Dad, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being the 
     best father you could be doing all you have done for us and 
     having a vision for all humanity, without reservation.--Sabra 
     Baca
       What I remembered the most about my Dad, he was a good 
     father to us. He was really strict when we were growing up 
     but now that I am a mother, I know why he did it.
       When we were growing up, he loved family time. We would 
     always eat together as a family, and at night he would make 
     all of us kids kneel down around the bed to pray the Rosary. 
     No matter how tired he was he always would make us pray the 
     Rosary as a family. My dad loved the Lord and served him!
       He would get up every morning and call me and say 
     ``Feliz''--that was his nickname for me--``what are you doing 
     today?'' He never failed, he would call each one of us kids. 
     No matter how busy he was he took the time every morning to 
     call us every single day and sometimes two or three times a 
     day. I will miss that special call from my dad. Dad, I love 
     you very much and will miss you. I know you are looking down 
     on us but when I get that special call, I know I will be up 
     there with you. Love you, your daughter.--Ruppie Arreola.
       My dad--the things that I remember as a youth about my Pop 
     was he would get up to breakfast. Mom would make eggs, beans, 
     chili, every morning.
       He then would go to work, an eight hour job as a forklift 
     operator, while I went to school.
       I'd come home from school and do my homework, then my 
     chores, wait till Pop came home from work. He would kiss Mom, 
     put his lunch pail down, go wash his hands.
       Then we would all be sitting at the supper table. Food 
     smelled so good, chile, pappas, beans, noodles, meat loaf. Oh 
     yea, tortillas, Kool-Aid to drink. Dad would bless the food. 
     Head right for the green chile and tortillas. Then we would 
     start passing around the food.
       Right after dinner, no TV. He and I and Mom, sometimes 
     Ronnie, would shag baseballs. I would pitch to him, then he 
     would hit me a ton of ground balls, then he would pitch 
     batting practice, if we had enough daylight to run bases. Wow 
     I was happy. I had this black mitt that he bought me, I ate, 
     sleep with it. Then we would call it a day. He would rest for 
     a while then go pump gas at a service station called Far-go 
     till 10:00 p.m. My pop. Wow.--Ricky Baca

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