[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING MY FRIEND RAUL VARGAS ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM OVER 30 
            YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION'S LATINO STUDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2006

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to honor an old friend and fellow educator, Mr. Raul Vargas, on the 
occasion of his retirement. For over three decades, Raul has guided 
young men and women in realizing their academic goals through his 
pioneering efforts in higher education accessibility for Latino 
students in southern California and across the country.
  Born in Lordsburg, New Mexico, Raul moved with his family to Miami, 
Arizona after his father's death. It was in this small mining town that 
I first met Raul, and can recall many fond memories growing up with 
Raul and his siblings, Felipa, Alfredo, Alfonso, Elvia, and Elisa. At 
Miami High I learned of Raul's ability as a basketball player and a 
student.
  During the summer of 1964, I was again reacquainted with Raul at 
Arizona State University. We decided to become roommates and moved in 
with Leo Gutierrez and Bob Venegas to Contempo West, a.k.a., sin city. 
It was during this time that I assisted Raul with his study habits and 
he assisted me with my social life. During this time he met a young 
lady from Wickenburg, Arizona who would later become his wife. We 
remained roommates until December 1965 when I left to marry Verma.
  In 1972, Raul accepted a position at the University of Southern 
California (USC) as Executive Director of the Office for Mexican 
American Programs, marking the beginning of over thirty years as a 
leading administrator as part of the USC family. It was there that Raul 
and eight other USC alumni founded the USC Mexican American Alumni 
Association (MAAA) in 1974. The MAAA was established to be a vehicle of 
support for higher Latino enrollment at USC, providing tuition 
assistance to undergraduate, graduate, medical, dental, and law school 
students. The overwhelming success of the program under Raul's 
leadership, is evident not only in its more than 5800 scholarships 
awarded totaling $11.1 million, but also in its program being 
replicated in institutes of higher learning across the country, 
including ASU.
  When ASU joined the PAC-10, the ASU Hispanic Alumni began a rivalry 
with USC's MAAA. We commissioned a ``menudo pot'' that would go to the 
winning alumni association after the ASU/USC football game. As the ASU 
Hispanics learned of the USC MAAA program, they invited Raul to meet 
with Dr. Russell Nelson, the ASU President, to assist in organizing a 
Hispanic scholarship program similar to USC MAAA. With Dr. Nelson's 
agreement, the Los Diablos, an ASU Hispanic scholarship program, was 
born. To date, the ASU Los Diablos Scholarship continues to assist 
Latino students at ASU. After seeing the USC Hispanic Convocation 
organized by USC MAAA during a visit to USC, the ASU Hispanic students 
also organized a similar Hispanic Convocation honoring ASU Hispanic 
graduates.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with immense admiration and privilege that I ask 
my colleagues to join Raul's many friends and family in recognizing my 
dear friend in his lifetime of unwavering service to our nation's 
Latino students. We hope that Raul will enjoy this well-deserved 
retirement, to play golf and travel with his wife Marcia. He will also 
be able to spend more time with his son Cesar, daughter Tracey, and 
granddaughter Alexis. Raul, thank you and congratulations my friend!

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