[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO FRANK R. MASCARENAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I now honor 
an extraordinary human being and great American Frank R. Mascarenas. 
Mr. Mascarenas was loved and admired by many. He was an educator, an 
active force in the life of youth in his community, and first and 
foremost, a loving family man. Sadly, Frank died on January 25 
surrounded by friends and family. As family, friends, and former 
students mount this loss, I would like to honor this great man.
  Mr. Mascarenas was an individual that served his country, state, and 
national well. For most of his life, Frank worked as an educator, Frank 
began his teaching career in 1959 in Cortez, CO, after having served 
his country for eight years in the U.S. Army. In addition to being an 
outstanding teacher throughout the course of his career, Frank was also 
dedicated to sports and to coaching. He began coaching in Cortez at the 
same time he began his teaching tenure. As an educator and a coach, he 
helped to improve the quality of life in his community.
  Frank grew up in Montrose, CO, where he was well known and widely 
admired. He was raised by his grandmother, Manuela Lovato, and Aunt, 
Cecilia Trujillo. He graduated from Montrose High School and then 
earned his bachelors of arts degree in education after attending Ft. 
Lewis College and Adam State Colleges. Frank married his life partner 
and beautiful wife Carolyn Leech in the summer of 1958. Frank and 
Carolyn have three children--a son Mark, and daughters Stacey and 
Kelli.
  After teaching and coaching in Cortez until 1981, he took his talents 
to Rangely where he again had a dramatic impact on the community's 
youth. In 1991, Frank joined the ranks of Palisade High School where he 
had a famed coaching tenure. While at Palisade, Frank was an integral 
part of a remarkable run that brought Palisade four consecutive state 
championships. This historic championship run was fitting punctuation 
for Frank's successful career as a coach and educator. Like those great 
Palisade football teams, Frank was a champion in the truest meaning of 
the word. More than just winning football games, though, Frank helped 
instill lifeshaping virtues in both his players and students alike.
  Mr. Speaker and fellow colleagues, as you can see, this extraordinary 
human being truly deserves our gratitude for his service to our 
community. Frank R. Mascarenas may be gone, but his legacy will long 
endure in the minds of those who were fortunate enough to know him. 
Colorado is a better place because of Frank Mascarenas.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Carolyn, and his 
children, Mark, Stacey, and Kelli, during this difficult time. Like 
these loved ones, western Colorado will miss Frank greatly.

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