[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH BIRTHDAYS OF LEOPOLDO CASTRO CASTRO AND 
                         LUCIA CONTRERAS PEREZ

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2005

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 
100th birthday celebration of Leopoldo Castro Castro and Lucia 
Contreras Perez, parents of Jesus V. Castro, a former resident of my 
Congressional District and an exchange student from Peru at Shaker 
Heights High School from 1965-1966.
  Leopoldo Castro was born in Orcotuna, Peru, a small village in the 
Andes Mountains, on November 15, 1905. Although his parents were 
farmers without any formal education, Leopoldo managed to finish grade 
school, and with only that level of education, became a distinguished 
resident of Orcotuna. Leopoldo wanted to become a lawyer, but his 
family could not afford his college education, nor were there any 
colleges in the region. But those hurdles did not hold him back. 
Leopoldo saved enough money to purchase a law book and taught himself 
the Peruvian legal code.
  At age 20, he was appointed Justice of the Peace of the District of 
Orcotuna by the State Supreme Court, a position he held for over 50 
years. His fair and thoughtful decisions as Justice of the Peace gained 
him the respect of his entire village.
  Achieving what Leopoldo could not for lack of means, his son, Jesus 
V. Castro, and his grandson, Jorge E. Castro, attended college and law 
school and became attorneys. Jorge currently serves as Tax and Trade 
Counsel in my Washington, DC office.
  Leopoldo's wife of over 70 years, Lucia Contreras Perez, also of 
Orcotuna, will turn 100 years of age March 2, 2006. They live happily 
in Lima, Peru with their children and grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, next week their hometown of Orcotuna will honor the 
lives of Lucia and Leopoldo during the annual Saint Francis of Assisi 
traditional festivities. I wish Lucia and Leopoldo Godspeed as they 
celebrate their 100th birthday.

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