[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 148 (Tuesday, December 5, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H12007-H12008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN HENRY B. GONZALEZ

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Reyes).
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, last week we lost an icon in American life. I, like all 
of my colleagues here, can reflect back on just exactly what Henry B. 
meant, not just to me and to my family, but to Texans and the Hispanic 
community at large.
  We had the privilege of hosting a retirement dinner for him when he 
retired a couple of years ago, and I can tell you, everyone that 
attended that retirement dinner, which was, by the way, televised on C-
SPAN later on, commented on the fact that Henry B., while a legend, was 
an individual that had the common man's touch.
  It has been said that to truly make a difference in your lifetime, 
you have to have the ability to walk among kings but never lose the 
common man's touch, and Henry B. had that common man's touch. He fought 
for the things that were important for all of us.
  A lot of us here today are here because we stood on Henry B.'s 
shoulders. A lot of us here recognize that we would not be here had 
Henry B. not been a pathfinder, had not been an individual that opened 
the road for the rest of us.
  While on the one hand it is a sad time to lose a man, a legend, a 
Texan, an American, truly a hero for all ages and for all this world, 
on the other hand it is also a time to celebrate his contributions, 
celebrate what he means to each and every one of us. And let us never 
forget that as long as he lives in our hearts, he lives in this world.
  So to my good friend and colleague, Charlie Gonzalez, as long as all 
of us have Henry B. in our hearts, he will never die.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Turner).
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I would say to Charlie, each member of our 
delegation shares in your loss and we express our deep sympathy to you.
  I guess the best story I ever heard about your father was really not 
about his early political races or about his 37 years in the Congress 
or about how he worked to single-handedly break down racial barriers in 
our country, but it is a story about how the 70-year-old Congressman 
slugged a man in a San Antonio restaurant who called him a communist.
  Henry B. loved his country. He had the kind of fierce patriotism that 
has always driven America. He did not back off, he did not give in, and 
he was not afraid to take on the most powerful people in Washington, 
even if they happened to be in his own party.
  Henry's early political career was marked with both important 
milestones and political failures. His success as the first Tejano to 
hold a seat on the San Antonio City Council, the Texas State Senate and 
here in the U.S. House of Representatives inspired a generation of 
leaders in the Mexican-American communities, many of whom are serving 
with us here today.
  But Henry faced setbacks in his life as well. Half a century ago he 
thrust himself into San Antonio politics by trying to convince several 
of his friends to run for the legislature. It seems Henry had become 
convinced that Bexar County needed a full-time domestic relations 
court, and he knew the only way to get it was to get it through the 
legislature. After being unable to find anyone else to run, he ran 
himself. But he lost that first race. Today in Texas, however, domestic 
relations courts are a common fixture of the judiciary.
  As with so many other issues which he championed as the lone voice 
crying in the wilderness, Henry was a trailblazer, a trailblazer for 
the downtrodden, the poor, the disadvantaged, the disenfranchised.
  Henry B. Gonzalez once ran for Governor of Texas and for the United 
States Senate, only to come up short. But the fire inside Henry B. was 
fueled not by personal ambition, but by love for his country and a 
belief in a higher cause that could not be extinguished.
  For 38 years, Henry fought for the cause of justice and equality in 
this House. He served under eight Presidents and he chaired the 
powerful Committee on Banking and Financial Services. He was a legend 
in Washington, a master of constituent service, and a patron saint of 
San Antonio politics.

                              {time}  1230

  His passion was contagious. His legacy gives all of us the strength 
to fight, the confidence to succeed, and the resolve never to give up.
  That story of the man who called Henry B. a Communist in Earl Abel's 
restaurant in 1986 reflected that rare combination of passion and 
character that mark the greatness of Henry B. Gonzalez. It is told that 
after being hit by the 70-year-old Congressman, that that diner who 
called him a Communist demanded of Henry B. an apology. Henry said his 
only regret was that he pulled the punch.
  We do not know if Henry really pulled his punch that day, but Henry 
B. Was a fighter. He was in every sense a great American. If he did 
really go easy on the man in that restaurant that day, it would have 
been the only punch he ever pulled.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Lampson).

[[Page H12008]]

  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for 
yielding to me.
  I started my teaching career in San Antonio, and heard of Congressman 
Henry B. Gonzalez as I was a young teacher. I remember earlier than 
that even when he was first elected to Congress.
  I remember that as the first Hispanic elected to the House of 
Representatives from Texas, that he instantly became a role model, not 
only for Hispanics in my area, but for everyone who believed that our 
country was changing and that opportunities were opening up for all 
minorities.
  From his first day days in the House of Representatives, Chairman 
Gonzalez became known as a strong personality who was willing to listen 
to the other side of the argument, but in the end, was willing to fight 
for what he believed was right.
  Chairman Gonzalez gave a voice to the voiceless, hope to the 
hopeless, and belief in a future to all of us.
  As a college student, I had the opportunity to intern for Chairman 
Jack Brooks. Getting to see Henry B. during that time in action was one 
of the highlights of my summer here in Washington, D.C. in the late 
sixties. I know that that experience shaped how I approached being a 
Congressman.
  So much has been said today about Henry B.'s commitment to the 
homeless, to the disenfranchised, to the less fortunate. His legacy 
will live forever and his good work will be continued through his other 
great legacy, our good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez). 
I know Henry B. Gonzalez will live on through his work as a Congressman 
and the impact it had on many of us in this great body.
  The State of Texas is a better place, this Nation is a better place, 
and we are better people because of Henry B. Gonzalez' time on this 
Earth.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Roybal-Allard.)
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in paying 
tribute to a friend, a mentor, and a great American, Congressman Henry 
B. Gonzalez. Henry B., as he was known to his friends, served his 
constituents and our Nation with honor, dedication, and dignity.
  I as a member of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services had 
the privilege of witnessing firsthand Henry B.'s skill and knowledge of 
the issues under his jurisdiction as chairman of the committee. I 
benefited and enjoyed the many stories he delighted in telling about 
his childhood and his many years in Congress, using his incredible 
institutional memory to make his point to the committee or to a 
witness. It did not matter whether that witness was a cabinet member or 
lobbyist, his lectures did not discriminate.
  Henry B. was a courageous leader, never afraid to stand up for what 
he believed was right, particularly when it came to consumer protection 
and public housing. Under his leadership, he managed and led to 
enactment numerous bills, including complex legislation reforming the 
savings and loan industry, fundamental reform of the bank regulation, 
and the last major public housing legislation to become law.
  Furthermore, as the first Hispanic Congressman from Texas, Henry B. 
was a pioneer who helped break down barriers and pave the way for 
others to follow. His success in spite of his humble beginnings gave 
hope and inspiration to others that they, too, could achieve their 
dream through hard work and commitment.
  At a time when the American public was growing increasingly cynical 
about government and politicians, Henry B. was a shining example of 
what was right about public service, for no one could challenge his 
integrity, his honesty, or his decency.
  Truly, Henry B. Gonzalez was a statesman who served his country and 
his constituents with passion, compassion, and commitment. He enriched 
the lives of all who knew him. I will sincerely miss Henry B. Gonzalez, 
and I am grateful and privileged for having had the opportunity to 
serve with him.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman), Chairman of the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I join with 
our colleagues in paying tribute to a distinguished Member of this body 
who was a unique lawmaker and spokesperson for his district in Texas. I 
thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) for arranging this special 
order.
  Henry B. Gonzalez served meritoriously in the Congress from 1961 
until his retirement in 1998. Those 37 years were the most dramatic in 
the field of civil rights since the Civil War. Henry B. was in the 
forefront of the struggle for equality for all minorities, and 
especially the Hispanic population in his home State of Texas.
  Henry was the first Member of Congress from Texas of Mexican 
heritage. His father was the editor of a Spanish language newspaper, 
and Henry first made his mark in the Texas State legislature, 
successfully filibustering against a bill that would have closed Texas 
schools rather than to comply with the court's orders to desegregate.
  He came to the House in a special election to fill a vacancy in 1961, 
and very quickly established himself in the Congress as an articulate 
spokesperson for those seeking equality under the law.
  Henry's most remarkable accomplishments were as Chairman of the 
Committee on Banking and Financial Services from 1989 to 1995. In that 
leadership position, Henry served with great fairness, and managed the 
approval of significant legislation impacting all Americans.
  Perhaps the most significant tribute to Henry came from the other 
side of the aisle, from his former colleague, Representative Joseph B. 
Kennedy II of Massachusetts, who stated, ``This guy defines his party's 
values.''
  Henry B. was the last one of our colleagues who was present that 
tragic day in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 when President John Kennedy was 
assassinated. He often reflected on the horror of that dark day in our 
Nation's history, but his faith in our form of government and his hope 
for the future remained unshaken throughout his career.
  Henry was called the spokesperson for the underdog, but in many ways 
he is a beacon of hope for all of us. Mr. Speaker, I join in extending 
my deepest sympathies to his widow, Bertha, their eight children, 
including our good colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), 
and most especially, to the people of the 20th District of Texas who 
have lost their hero, their staunch, devoted advocate.

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