[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E120-E121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              MR. AMADOR CALLEROS--LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2005

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. I want to recognize and 
congratulate one of my most distinguished constituents from the 39th 
Congressional District, Mr. Amador ``Cal'' Calleros. I commend him for 
his invaluable contribution to his family, to his company--Southern 
California Gas, to the Whittier community, and to the Los Angeles area. 
On January 15, 2005, Mr. Calleros retired from the Southern California 
Gas Company after 34 years of outstanding service.
  Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Mr. Calleros grew up as the 
oldest of three children, providing a shining example to his sisters. 
His father Sirilo, who was born in Springfield, IL, and his mother 
Helen, who was born in Riverside, CA, met in Los Angeles. Mr. Calleros, 
who was raised by his hard-working father and loving mother, also spent 
time with his grandmother Maria and his step grandfather Prieto.
  In 1965, Mr. Calleros graduated from Montebello High School, where he 
excelled as the star catcher on the baseball team. After high school, 
Mr. Calleros attended Los Angeles Trade Tech for a short time before he 
decided to enlist in the military, where he pursued a special interest 
in the communications branch of the Army. The war in Vietnam was 
escalating and Mr. Calleros wanted to serve his country. He was 
stationed in Strasbourg, Germany, for 2 years from 1966 to 1968, where 
he awaited the call to the Far East. Though he never was asked to serve 
in Vietnam, Mr. Calleros suffered the loss of countless friends from 
East Los Angeles who were killed in the Vietnam War. Upon his return, 
Mr. Calleros helped bring comfort to these families during their time 
of grief.
  In 1970, which proved to be a milestone year for Mr. Calleros, he met 
and married his wife, Esther, and began his career at the Southern 
California Gas Company. In 1972, Amador and Esther moved from Monterey 
Park to Whittier, and still live in the same house. Amador has been a 
devoted husband to Esther, a supportive father of two sons, and a 
loving grandfather of one. Though committed to his work, he has always 
put family first, and this commitment has helped to create a strong 
family and nurtured immediate and extended family members.

[[Page E121]]

  Having lived in Whittier for over 30 years, Mr. Calleros has 
volunteered his time at Lambert Little League, Gunn Park (now called 
Adventure Park), California High School, and St. Gregory the Great 
Parish. His greatest passion is coaching baseball. Through coaching, 
Mr. Calleros has provided instruction, mentoring, and guidance to 
hundreds, if not thousands of youth from Whittier, La Mirada, and other 
surrounding areas of the 39th Congressional District.
  Professionally, Mr. Calleros distinguished himself within the 
Southern California Gas Company. He began his career as a field 
technician with his shiny, white Gas Company pick-up truck. Having 
excelled as a technician, he moved on to become a meter-reader, a field 
service representative, a measurement analyst, and eventually a 
measurement technologies expert. The latter two jobs were completed as 
a member of the management team. It was rare for someone who started 
out in meter reading to ascend to management, but Mr. Calleros did, 
paving the way for others to do the same. He continually gave his 
coworkers inspiration and valuable leadership, which enabled them to 
succeed.
  Mr. Calleros has generously offered support to his family, his 
baseball players, his neighbors, his colleagues, and his friends. He 
has dedicated his entire professional career to one organization to 
which he remained loyal. I am pleased to commend and thank him for his 
excellent work and look forward to many more years of his service to 
the community.

                          ____________________