[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING SAL SALAZAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2002

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Sal 
Salazar on the occasion of the California Restaurant Association 
commemorating his life with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Salazar 
began his remarkable career in the restaurant in 1942 and his family 
continues the business holding fast to Sal's values and traditional 
recipes. This award is the Association's highest honor and marks the 
60th anniversary of Sal's Mexican Restaurant and pays tribute to a 
successful entrepreneur, respected community leader, and beloved 
husband and father.
  Mr. Salazar was born in Herez, Zacatecas, Mexico, and came with his 
parents to Selma, California, in the late 1920's. Sal worked as a farm 
laborer until he followed an impulse and on August 22, 1942 opened his 
own taco restaurant. The restaurant grew to include a full Mexican menu 
and earned regional acclaim.
  A great Mexican restaurant was not the only thing that Mr. Salazar 
gave his community. Sal worked for the Selma Justice Court, Fresno 
County Superior Court, and California Supreme Court in Sacramento as an 
interpreter. He also sponsored 14 Mexican families who relocated to 
California, provided leadership in the formation of a West Selma 
improvement district that led to its incorporation into the city, and 
helped his siblings with their education. Sal also served on the Selma 
Chamber of Commerce, Selma Planning Commission, Selma High School 
Boosters Club, and Fresno County Grand Jury. In 1945, he served as an 
alternate on the interpreter staff at the first meeting of the United 
Nations in San Francisco.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Sal Salazar as his 
family accepts the California Restaurant Association's Lifetime 
Achievement Award on his behalf. I invite my colleagues to join me in 
remembering Mr. Salazar for his community service and entrepreneurial 
spirit and wishing his family and restaurants many more years of 
continued success.

                          ____________________