[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 143 (Tuesday, September 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION OF EL PASOAN PAUL L. FOSTER TO TEXAS 
                 TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

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                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2007

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise to 
recognize Mr. Paul L. Foster, the president and CEO of Western Refining 
Inc. of El Paso, who, with a strong desire to give back to the El Paso 
community, donated $50 million to the Texas Tech University Health 
Sciences Center. That's right, Madam Speaker--$50 million of his own 
money.
  Foster's selfless contribution, the largest donation given to Texas 
Tech by an individual in the history of the university, will allow for 
great advances in border health issues research and various other 
health care initiatives. The gift will support the recruitment of staff 
members, finance faculty salaries, and purchase necessary medical 
equipment. In acknowledgment of his donation, the university named El 
Paso's 4-year medical school the ``Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.'' 
Unique to the area, it is the first medical school on the U.S.-Mexico 
border and only the second new medical institution created in the U.S. 
in the last 25 years. Although a medical school of such stature and 
prestige has been greatly needed for the El Paso community for some 
time, it is now becoming a reality, in part due to Mr. Foster's 
assistance.
  The Paul F. Foster School holds many prospects for medical science 
and healthcare. Increased specialized physicians coupled with superior 
medical equipment will allow for substantial economic growth in the El 
Paso region along with quality health care for my constituents. It will 
also provide greater incentives for researchers to come to the area and 
learn about and help solve health issues unique to the U.S.-Mexico 
border.
  A 1979 Baylor University graduate, Foster founded Western Refining 
Inc. in 1997, which is currently the Nation's fourth largest publicly 
traded independent oil refinery. Despite his tremendous success, Paul 
remains modest, humble, and connected to our local community. The 
magnitude of his generous gift will be felt for generations, yet in 
typical fashion he seeks none of the attention that such a gift merits.
  I have always believed it is critically important that we continue to 
pave the way for greater healthcare infrastructure in El Paso and along 
the U.S.-Mexico border, and the 4-year medical school can serve as the 
cornerstone in this effort. This vision, this dream, is one step closer 
with the huge charitable contribution of Paul Foster.
  As the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine pays tribute to this 
remarkable philanthropist, I would like to do the same. His 
contribution to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center will 
prove extremely beneficial to the El Paso community and to aspiring 
doctors and nurses in our region.

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