[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 156 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ARNOLD SAAVEDRA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 2003

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary educator and patriot, Arnold Saavedra. The product of a 
strong family, he was raised with his three siblings to understand the 
importance of education.
  His parents taught their children that teachers have a mighty impact 
on the lives of the students they teach. His father taught in a one-
room schoolhouse in Duval County. The lessons of his family were not 
lost on any of the children; each one became a teacher, on a mission to 
make the lives of children better through education.
  One day when he was in the 7th grade, Mr. Saavedra glanced out the 
classroom window and saw the football coach out in the field with the 
players. At that moment, he knew he wanted to be a coach and teacher.
  He taught and coached at a number of Corpus Christi Independent 
School District schools from 1973 through this year. In July 2003, he 
moved to the Adult Learning Center as the Lead Administrator to apply 
lessons in learning to adults.
  In those years when he taught classes and coached young athletes on 
fields of play, he taught the same lesson he'd learned in his parents' 
home . . . the key to success in life begins with an education. For 30 
years he has shared those lessons with the young people of Corpus 
Christi. His legacy is in the success of his students.
  While at Texas A&I College, Mr. Saavedra met and married his college 
sweetheart, Ida Ortega Saavedra, and she has been his most constant 
source of support. They have two children, Tricia Dunlap and Arnold 
Andrew Saavedra, and a granddaughter, Sage Elizabeth Dunlap.
  Mr. Saavedra will retire on November 25, 2003, after more than 30 
years with the Corpus Christi Independent School District. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in commending him for his life's work.

                          ____________________