[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATING GILBERT ALVAREZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 1, 2009

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Gilbert 
Alvarez on the occasion of his retirement from the Hansen Dam Aquatic 
Center. Mr. Alvarez is being honored by his many colleagues, family and 
friends for his dedicated career and longtime commitment to the City of 
Los Angeles.
  A resident of Southern California, Gilbert began his career with the 
City of Los Angeles, at the Department of Recreation and Parks, in the 
intermittent part-time position of Recreation Assistant. During his 
eleven years as a part-time employee, he held a myriad of jobs in West 
Wilshire, El Sereno, Yosemite Pools, served as a supply manager for the 
Metro Region, and held the positions of Pool Lifeguard and Pool 
Manager.
  On May 23, 1999 he was selected as the first Aquatic Facility Manager 
in the City and the first supervisor of the newly rebuilt Hansen Dam 
Aquatic Center.
  During Gilbert's tenure as the Manager of the Hansen Dam Aquatic 
Center, his diligence and oversight of the pool helped detect a leak 
that would have cost taxpayers millions of dollars had it gone 
unnoticed.
  Furthermore, Mr. Alvarez created the annual Hansen Dam Triathlon, 
which introduced an activity that has greatly benefitted the community. 
Among his other achievements during the past thirty-seven years of 
service to the City of Los Angeles, Gilbert revived the Open Water 
Junior Lifeguard Program at Hansen Dam and Cabrillo Beach.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Gilbert Alvarez a happy and 
productive retirement.

                          ____________________