[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING FRANK ``PONCHO'' ROBERTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Frank 
``Poncho'' Roberts, a dedicated husband, father, and community servant 
on the occasion of his graduation from Sam Houston State University in 
Huntsville, Texas. Mr. Roberts graduates with a bachelor of fine arts 
degree in theatre.
  Poncho Roberts was born to Frank and Daisy Roberts on February 19, 
1932, in Madisonville, Texas. He spent part of his childhood in 
Huntsville, but later moved to Houston and graduated from Austin High 
School in 1949. After graduation, he worked for the Southwestern Bell 
Telephone Company. He spent most of his career working for the company 
at NASA as a craftsman and supervisor. Poncho fondly recounts his days 
working as a contractor for the space agency having seen some of its 
earliest missions from Gemini to Apollo.
  Upon retirement in 1986, Poncho and his wife, Sugar, moved back to 
Huntsville to be close to their children. With a heart for serving 
others and a joyful, outgoing personality, Poncho was called on to help 
with various community service projects. He was the driving force 
behind the effort to build the Huntsville Aquatic Center, which has 
given the youth of Huntsville a place to swim and has allowed for the 
development of the Huntsville Lakers Swim Team.
  Poncho has volunteered many hours of his time to work with the 
Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce working at the Sam Houston 
Statue and Visitors Center. He is a member of the Huntsville Rotary 
Club and leads the ``I Like Me!'' program that distributes books to 
children to promote literary and character building. Poncho is also a 
deacon at University Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville.
  Poncho is well known for the penchant he has for the fine arts, 
especially theatre, and he has been a part of many plays performed by 
the Huntsville Community Theatre.
  Of all his accomplishments, Poncho is most proud of being a loving 
husband and father. Poncho and Sugar have been married for 58 years. 
They have raised two children, a son, Frank Jr., and a daughter, 
Debbie. They have eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with 
another on the way.
  Madam Speaker, Poncho Roberts has dedicated his life to being a 
family man and to serving his community. He is proof that education is 
a lifelong endeavor. It is such an honor to represent good people like 
Poncho in the U.S. House of Representatives. I urge you to join me in 
congratulating him on his graduation. That's Togetherness, One More 
Time.

                          ____________________