[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S10647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO PABLO RAUL ALARCON

 Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, today I honor the life of Pablo 
Raul Alarcon. His dedication and achievements in overcoming the tyranny 
of the Castro regime to found the largest publicly traded Hispanic-
controlled media company in America stands as a powerful example of the 
realization of the American dream. While we mourn the passing of this 
broadcasting pioneer, we celebrate his legacy and the profound impact 
his life has had on the United States.
  Today, the Spanish Broadcasting System owns and operates 20 radio 
stations across the country, including the No. 1 Spanish-language radio 
station in America--which I have the privilege of listening to when I 
am home in New Jersey. They own a popular television station and 
operate a bilingual Web site dedicated to Latino culture and news. 
Under the exemplary leadership of Mr. Alarcon's son, Raul Alarcon, Jr., 
SBS continues to be the gold standard in Hispanic-operated 
broadcasting.
  The Alarcons were born in Cuba, where Pablo Raul Alarcon founded his 
first radio station in 1951. He found success creating a network of 14 
stations across the country, which were ultimately seized by the Castro 
dictatorship. The Alarcons fled to America with few possessions. But 
the tyranny of Castro could not crush the spirit of their 
entrepreneurship. Mr. Alarcon worked his way up in Spanish language 
radio, doing programming, sales, and advertising. In 1983 Mr. Alarcon 
and his son, Raul Alarcon, Jr., fulfilled their long-held dream of once 
again owning a broadcast station. They purchased a small AM station 
licensed in my home State and created the first Spanish language format 
to be introduced into the New York/New Jersey market in over 25 years.
  Since 1983, the Alarcons have overseen the expansion of SBS to become 
one of the premier Hispanic-controlled broadcast companies in America. 
Soon after its founding, SBS expanded to Los Angeles and Miami. In 
1993, their KLAX-FM station achieved a historic overall No. 1 ranking 
in southern California.
  As the torch was passed from father to son, SBS continued its rise. 
In 1999, SBS completed the second largest IPO in radio history and 
continued expanding their network of broadcast stations. That same 
year, SBS went online with the purchase of lamusica.com. In 2001, SBS 
produced a sell-out Madison Square Garden charity concert to honor the 
victims of September 11. In 2006, SBS entered the television 
broadcasting business with the creation of the MEGA-TV network.
  Raul Alarcon, Jr., is well known for his tremendous successes as the 
president and CEO of SBS. He has been recognized as one of the 100 most 
influential Hispanics and as one of the 40 most powerful people in 
radio. In 1994, Raul Alarcon, Jr., was given the Lifetime Achievement 
Award for Business Excellence. In 1995, he received both the Ellis 
Island Medal of Honor and the Human Rights Committee Radio 
Contributions Award. He has testified before Congress and his position 
as an authority in the field of minority media ownership is 
unparalleled.
  There is no doubt that the Alarcons exhibit the embodiment of the 
American dream. When a cruel dictatorship destroyed their life's work, 
they came to America and started over by creating a company that 
impacts the lives of millions of Americans. So I am pleased to pay 
tribute to the Spanish Broadcasting System, to honor the passing of 
Pablo Raul Alarcon, and to recognize the tremendous achievement of Raul 
Alarcon, Jr., in carrying on his father's legacy.

                          ____________________