[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 89 (Friday, June 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING RUBEN VALDEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2002

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ruben 
Valdez for his leadership and service to Colorado.
  Cesar Chavez once said, ``We cannot seek achievement for ourselves 
and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our 
ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of 
others, for their sake and our own.'' Even a cursory glance at Ruben 
Valdez's life illuminates why he has been named to the Cesar Chavez 
Leadership Hall of Fame. The hall of fame recognizes Colorado Latinos 
for their outstanding contributions to civic life. Ruben's 
contributions to Colorado, the Hispanic community and public life have 
been extraordinary.
  Ruben was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1971. A 
few short years later he was elected Speaker of the House making him 
the first Hispanic to ever serve in that position. After retiring from 
the House in 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed him to be the 
Regional Director for the United States Department of Transportation. 
The following year, he was selected by Colorado Governor Dick Lamm to 
serve as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Social 
Services. In 1985, Ruben accepted an unprecedented dual appointment by 
Governor Lamm to be Executive Director for both the Colorado Department 
of Social Services and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
  At the end of this extraordinary period in his public life, Ruben was 
perhaps the most successful Latino leader in Colorado history. For many 
young Latinos interested in politics and government at the time (some 
on whom now serve on my staff) Ruben Valdez was a pioneer--living proof 
that having a Spanish surname did not disqualify a person from having a 
successful career in public service.
  Cesar Chavez was a leader who organized the Hispanic community from 
``outside'' the halls of power in government. Ruben showed that another 
leadership model was available to Hispanics. Ruben showed that 
Hispanics could also work from inside the corridors of power, not only 
in the halls of government, but in corporate boardrooms. I think Cesar 
Chavez would have been pleased by Ruben's success, particularly because 
it paved the way for so many other talented Hispanic leaders to come.
  Today Ruben Valdez is a very successful consultant helping clients at 
every level of government. He was a well-known figure in the halls of 
the Colorado State Legislature when I served there, and I came to 
admire him for his reputation as a respected lobbyist.
  Ruben Valdez is a thoughtful and experienced leader. Those who know 
him will tell you that he is the kind of man you want on your side in a 
difficult battle. His service to Colorado has been exceptional, and I 
am pleased to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring his 
achievements.

                          ____________________