[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 83 (Friday, June 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PAYING TRIBUTE TO MANUEL ``MANNY'' CORTEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Manuel Cortez for his 
outstanding service and memorable impact on the city of Las Vegas. 
Manuel passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2006 at the age of 67.
  Manny, a resident of Las Vegas since 1944, was instrumental in making 
the city one of the world's top vacation destinations. When Manny took 
over the Convention Authority, Las Vegas had 73,730 hotel and motel 
rooms and two major convention centers, including the then-new Sands 
Exposition and Convention Center, which opened its first phase in late 
1990. Las Vegas hosted approximately 21.3 million visitors in 1991, an 
early stage of what became an unprecedented era of local growth 
following The Mirage's 1989 debut. By the time that boom halted in 
summer 2000, Las Vegas had added multiple world-class resorts, 
including Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and The Venetian. Today, the city 
today boasts 129,475 rooms and three of the nation's largest convention 
centers.
  In the period following the terrorist attacks of September 2001 and 
the subsequent U.S. economic slowdown, Manny oversaw a highly flexible 
marketing strategy that helped Las Vegas recover more quickly than many 
competing destinations. Part of Manny's advertising campaign included 
the forever popular tag line, ``what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.''
  On May 5, 2004, Manny resigned as President and Chief Executive 
Officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, a position 
he held for 13 years.
  Manny served four terms as a Clark County Commissioner, beginning in 
1976. He also served on the governing board of the University Medical 
Center, as well as the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the 
Metropolitan Police Department fiscal affairs boards. He was honored in 
1999 by having a local elementary school named for him, and was also 
named Travel Agent Magazine's United States Person of the Year.
  The most important part of Manny's life was his family. He leaves 
behind his loving wife of 45 years, Joanna Cortez; daughters, Cynthia 
Musgrove and her husband, Dan, and Catherine Cortez Masto and her 
husband, Paul; grandson, Andrew Musgrove; granddaughter, Christina 
Musgrove; mother, Mary Cortez; sister, Patricia Snider; aunt, Mary 
Tapia; and numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. He was preceded in 
death by his father, Edward C. Cortez.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. Manny Cortez on the floor 
of the House. He was a good friend who served the residents and guests 
of Las Vegas with honor, and he will be greatly missed.

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