[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 173 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING EUGENE FELIX CERVANTES 100TH BIRTHDAY

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                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 8, 2007

  Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and extend my 
congratulations to Eugene Felix Cervantes and his family on the 
occasion of his 100th birthday, which will be celebrated on November 
10, 2007 at the California Mission Inn in Rosemead, California.
  Mr. Cervantes is an example of one of the many Americans that have 
brought about the profound change that make this country what it is 
today. Starting a successful business, serving as a private civilian 
employee of the U.S. Navy, membership in community and business 
organizations, and a sincere appreciation for the natural wonders of 
our State are all parts of a life that serves as a definitive example 
of the American dream.
  Born on November 15, 1907 in San Gabriel, California, Mr. Cervantes 
has many grand achievements to look back upon. In the early 1930s, Mr. 
Cervantes received his pilot's license. He went on to own two aircrafts 
and part of an airport. When the depression of the 1930s hit hard, he 
kept his head up and enrolled in night classes, teaching himself 
engineering. Though he never received an official degree in 
engineering, he was truly a self-taught engineer.
  In 1934, Mr. Cervantes married Mary Loya and had two sons, Richard 
and Donald. The young family moved to Mare Island in Vallejo, 
California, where Mr. Cervantes worked for the U.S. Navy at the naval 
submarine base. There, he did a great deal of work with ship board 
ventilation. His engineering background soon made him stand out, and he 
rose to the head of the department.
  The early 1930s were a peaceful time for the family, with plenty of 
recreation opportunities on the base. However, war clouds were looming 
on the horizon in Europe, and chaos broke loose with the December 7, 
1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Cervantes moved his family 
back to Alhambra, California to take a job with Bethlehem Steel's Ship 
Building Division as an engineer in charge of on-board ventilation at 
the company's design facility at the Port of San Pedro. He was divorced 
and married his second wife, his beloved of 62 years, Betty Helgeson 
from Brainerd, Minnesota.
  At the end of World War II, Mr. Cervantes put everything on the line 
to pursue the American dream of owning a business. The sheet metal 
company that he started in Compton, California in 1945 grew to handle 
some of the largest mechanical projects in the State. It was 
incorporated in 1962 and moved to Orange County, where it became known 
as Air Conditioning Systems, Inc. In 1985, the company was awarded a 
contract to design and build a portable ground support air conditioning 
unit for the Space Shuttle. The company went on to design and fabricate 
many highly specialized air conditioning systems, including B1 ground 
support, NAVSTAR Tracking Van, and Space Shuttle Assembly Building. In 
national recognition, the company was presented the Administrators 
Award for Excellence by the Small Business Administration.
  Throughout his life, Mr. Cervantes remained an avid golfer and a 
dedicated member of the Rio Honda Country Club. He played into his 92nd 
Birthday and shot his age on several occasions. He held membership in 
many clubs and community and business organizations. When he fully 
retired in 1987, he moved to his new home at Canyon Crest Country Club 
in Riverside, California.
  Mr. Cervantes' love for the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains, 
involvement in the community, and passion for helping people who were 
``down on their luck'' are just a few of the things that have made his 
life so special. In 100 years, he has gone from horse and buggy to 
space exploration. Few people are blessed with such an exciting and 
extraordinary life. Mr. Cervantes is truly a great American, 
Californian, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
  Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I ask that you join me in honoring 
Eugene Felix Cervantes today. I hope we all have the good fortune to 
live such a full life as he has. He is a great man and his family and 
friends are very proud of all of these achievements.

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