[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E355-E356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO VERA FIGUEROA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2001

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to salute Vera Figueroa, of 
California. Vera has been recognized by Adelante, California Migrant 
Leadership Council and American Legion Merle Reed Post 124 as an 
outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the 
improvement of education opportunities for Latino Children in 
California.
  Delano High School Board Member, a highly respected community leader 
and cultural dance instructor, Vera has made major contributions to the 
youth and parents over the past years.

[[Page E356]]

  Born in El Paso, Texas, on January 4, 1937, daughter of Mrs. Elvira 
Villegas, Vera has five brothers and two sisters. Her family moved to 
Delano in 1946. Married since 1955 to Johnny Figueroa, they have three 
children: Lorriane Melendez, 28 years of age, who resides in McFarland, 
Johnny Figueroa III, 24 years, of Delano, and Edmundo Figueroa, age 14, 
a student at Delano High School.
  Attending Fremont Elementary, Richgrove Elementary, and Delano High 
School, Vera graduated in 1955. She worked as a Community Aide at 
Delano High School from 1979 to 1985, and currently works at the school 
as a Record Clerk, since 1985.
  Vera has been an active community volunteer, freely giving of her 
time, efforts, and talent. She has served as a coach for Delano Parks 
and Recreation, coaching 3rd to 12th grades, all sports. In honor of 
her achievements and volunteerism, Vera was appointed Delano parks and 
Recreation Commissioner, July 1980--December 1984.
  Vera is also known for dance. She has served as Dance Instructor at 
Albany Park and Fremont School for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders.
  She started dancing as ``Vera'' for the soldiers at Ft. Bliss and 
other places in Texas. While still in El Paso, she studied classical 
Spanish Dances. In Delano she continued to learn on her own. In the 
late 40s and early 50s she danced at both the Albany Park and Fremont 
Schools.
  In the '70s she started the Figueroa Troup. It was multicultural 
group, featuring dances of Spain, Mexico, Russia, Hawaii, Japan and the 
Philippines. At one time the group included her daughter, and several 
other Cinco de Mayo Queen Contestants. They performed for the Boy 
Scouts Jamboree in Hayward and for the Men's Prison in San Luis Obispo. 
They performed in San Jose, Santa Ana, San Fernando, and Bakersfield.
  Vera's love of dance and her Mexican culture inspired her to devote 
many hours to teaching the cultural dances of Mexico and Spain. She 
choreographed most Cinco de Mayo queen show pageants. She devoted 
thousands of hours to their celebration.
  Vera served as Grand Marshal of the 30th Fiesta and Parade for Cinco 
de Mayo Fiesta, Inc., in Delano, in honor of her accomplishments and 
devotion to preserving the culture.
  She also helped found Community of Concerned Parents for Better 
Education, (CCPBE), and has been President for four years. The group 
works for better education and greater parent participation. Under her 
leadership, CCPBE raised $2,000 for the Fremont School Track. They also 
provide $1,000 scholarship awards for Delano High graduates. Vera has 
always worked for better education for the community's economically and 
academically disadvantaged.
  Vera has been a member of Delano High PTA and Terrace School PTA. As 
president of the CCPBE, she has been instrumental in helping with back-
to-school nights at the Delano schools, contributing monies to Fremont 
School and many other local school activities.
  It is a pleasure to honor Vera Figueroa, who has made and continues 
to make a difference for California youth and the Latino community.

                          ____________________