[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 107 (Tuesday, September 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING RUDY GARCIA

 Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor the memory of Rudolph ``Rudy'' Garcia, a 
quintessential entrepreneur and fixture in the St. Paul community, who 
passed away on August 27, 2006, at the age of 61. As Rudy's close 
friends have noted: ``He truly personified the American Dream.'' Having 
grown up in an orphanage without any formation education, Rudy decided 
at an early age to chase his dream of owning and operating his own 
restaurant a dream that went hand in hand with his great love of 
cooking.
  At the age of 21, he opened his first establishment, Garcia's Casita 
on the West Side of the city, becoming St. Paul's first Latino 
businessowner. Through a combination of Rudy's personality and 
commonsense business practices, he was able to grow Garcia's Casita 
into a string of six different St. Paul eating establishments during 
the 1990s. From steakhouses to nightclubs, Rudy's perseverance 
continually led him to success even in the face of several failures and 
a St. Paul that was still on the edge of revitalization.
  Rick Aguilar, a St. Paul businessman and longtime friend, described 
Rudy as ``a man with a million ideas'' whose energy helped him roll 
with the punches and make his dreams a reality. Rudy continued to stay 
the course as both he and St. Paul grew alongside each other through 
the years. In 1994, while serving as the mayor of St. Paul, I had the 
distinct privilege of proclaiming a day in his honor. While the St. 
Paul community mourns Rudy's passing, we can't help but celebrate his 
life that should serve as a model for not only Latinos, but all 
Americans who are looking to make their dreams a reality.
  The St. Paul area and I will sincerely miss Garcia's great commitment 
to our community. Whether it was his work in the restaurant business or 
his participation in the early 1960s band the Jaymars a popular area 
band that played a mix of jazz, rock `n' roll and blues--Garcia's 
impact on St. Paul is immeasurable.

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