[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 22, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 TO HONOR THE TORREZ FAMILY AS RECIPIENTS OF THE 2001 ARIZONA HISPANIC 
          CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR AWARD.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2001

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, today I rise before you to pay tribute to 
not one person, but an entire family in my district which has 
established itself as a beacon of accomplishment. The family I speak of 
is the Torrez Family, owners of the great Azteca Plaza in Phoenix.
  The Torrezes have been a benevolent part of our community for over 56 
years. Adolfo Torrez and the late Kay Anne Torrez set a standard not 
only with their commitment to their business and customers, but also 
with the values and ethics that they installed in their children Raoul, 
Royna, and Gregory.
  Azteca Cafe was first started by Adolfo and Kay Torrez in 1946. Soon 
they added a small bar which they named Azteca Bar. These two 
businesses flourished at the corner of Third and Washington streets. 
Over the next few years, the Torrez family would expand their property 
and their businesses to include a flower shop, furniture store, bridal 
store, formal clothing retailer, and even a dry cleaning company.
  The three Torrez children would work side by side with their parents 
learning from their versatility and passion for hard work. Today 
Gregory, Raoul, and Royna, continue in their parents footsteps, 
managing Azteca Plaza and are proving to their community that they are 
as ethical and driven as their parents, and as compassionate and caring 
for their community.
  The Torrez family recently received the 2001 Arizona Hispanic Chamber 
of Commerce Entrepreneurs of the Year Award for their work not only as 
business people, but for their contributions to society.
  Mr. Speaker and all my colleagues, please join me today in paying 
respect to this incredible family, my friends, the Torrezes of Phoenix.

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