[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE REMARKABLE CAREER OF MR. RAMON PUIG

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 
remarkable accomplishments of Mr. Ramon Puig. He truly is the 
embodiment of the American dream.
  Mr. Puig was born in the central mountain town of Zaza del Medio, in 
the Cuban province of Las Villas in 1920. At a young age, he learned to 
be a tailor and at 23, he opened shop in his hometown and began making 
and selling tropical dress shirts called guayaberas.
  As his popularity grew, he traveled throughout the island, taking 
skillful measurements and delivering his custom-made guayaberas. 
Eventually, he became a regular supplier of guayaberas to Cubans 
throughout the entire country.
  When Cuba fell to totalitarianism in 1959, Mr. Puig left his shop as 
he was forced to work in the dictatorship's sugarcane fields.
  He arrived in Miami on one of the Freedom Flights of October 18, 
1968. There, he worked for eight months as a hotel dishwasher for 95 
cents an hour.
  He put his life back together and in 1971, opened his first guayabera 
shop in Miami. His superb work, skillful craftsmanship and attention to 
detail have earned him the nickname, el Rey de las Guayaberas, the 
Guayabera King. His stylish shirts have earned him national attention, 
including a recent article in GQ magazine.
  Every day, he drives to his store and personally takes his customers' 
measurements, cuts the patterns, and supervises the seamstresses who 
stitch his custom-made guayaberas. His shirts are superbly made with 
embroidery and fine details that make each shirt unique.
  He carefully keeps track of everyone who buys his tailor-made 
guayaberas with record books filled with names, occupations, 
measurements and cuttings from the fabric he used to make their 
particular guayabera.
  Mr. Puig's list of clients includes stars George Hamilton, Robert 
Duvall, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, mayors, governors, senators and 
every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan. Their autographed photos 
adorn his office.
  In 1995, he moved his shop, La Casa de las Guayaberas, to 5840 SW 
Eighth Street in Miami. The store carries about 8,000 guayaberas and 
has hundreds more in storage.
  But the love of his life is Juana Maria, the wonderful woman he 
married 60 years ago. She is his partner in business as well as life.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my friend, Mr. Ramon Puig, for his long 
and remarkable career.
  I commend him for his hard work and wish him continued success and 
happiness. I am honored to call this great man, my friend.




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