[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING ARMANDO DE LEON, RECIPIENT OF THE 13TH ANNUAL PROFILES OF 
                   SUCCESS HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize an 
outstanding citizen who has been honored for his life-long dedication 
to Latino issues through which he has impacted the lives of many in our 
community. On September 6th, the Honorable Armando de Leon was honored 
by his peers at the annual Profiles of Success Hispanic Leadership 
Awards presentation in Phoenix, Arizona. This event, coordinated by 
Valle del Sol, a local non-profit community based organization, kicks 
off National Hispanic Heritage Month in Arizona and is now in it's 
thirteenth year of honoring worthy individuals.
  Judge de Leon began a 32-year career in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as 
a judge advocate. After being admitted to practice in Arizona, he 
worked briefly as a law clerk/bailiff. In 1965, Armando entered private 
practice in Phoenix, specializing in international law and serving as 
general counsel and volunteer pro bono attorney for twenty non-profit 
organizations.
  Armando served four years on the Phoenix City Council. He served on 
the Arizona-Mexico Commission and on Federal Advisory Committees to the 
U.S. Attorney General and INS Commissioner as well. He was appointed to 
the Arizona Superior Court bench in 1983 with rotations on civil 
litigation, criminal, domestic relations, and special assignment 
calendars. He chaired the Court Interpreter Policy & Bilingual Forms 
Committee, and the Unified Extern Program Liaison Committee of the 
Superior Court and the Arizona State University College of Law. Upon 
retirement from the bench, he returned to his hometown of Tucson, where 
he served as an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona College 
of Law.
  Armando's extensive community involvement includes serving as general 
counsel and board member to the National Council of La Raza, referral 
attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, 
board member of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, 
memberships in the Hispanic National Bar Association, Los Abogados 
Hispanic Bar Association, the Phoenix Hispanic-Jewish Coalition, and 
the League of United Latin American Citizens.
  He served as a General Officer and was awarded the Legion of Merit 
upon retirement in 1991, as well as the Distinguished Service Medal.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this outstanding citizen 
for his fine work and dedication. Throughout his life Judge de Leon has 
been a long time advocate for the Latino community and he has been a 
great role model for many.




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