[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  HONORING FERNANDO ``CHITO'' SALINAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 8, 2011

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the late Fernando 
``Chito'' Salinas for his dedication and contributions to the City of 
Laredo and South Texas.
  Mr. Salinas was born in 1924 in Laredo, Texas. ``Chito'', as he was 
known by friends, attended Christen Junior High School and later 
graduated from Martin High School in 1942. After he graduated, he 
attended Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He transferred 
to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana where he pursued a 
medical career. However, he found that his true calling was in fashion 
and retail. After moving back to Laredo, he helped his father run the 
family retail business, Los Dos Laredos. In 1952, Mr. Salinas opened 
his own store, Don Antonio's Men's Wear. After a brief trip to Europe 
in the 1960s, Mr. Salinas added the Castilian room to Don Antonio's 
that would specialize in high-end styles and hats. He was known both 
locally and internationally for the quality of clothes, but especially 
for the unique hats that his store carried. Mr. Salinas would travel 
regularly around the world to fashion hot spots, such as New York, Los 
Angeles, and Europe, to bring high-end fashion back to southern Texas.
  Aside from his impact on the fashion industry in Laredo, Mr. Salinas 
started the Fernando A. Salinas Charitable Trust in 2005 to benefit 
Laredo and Webb County. This Trust was designed to provide funding to 
charitable programs around Laredo and has made donations to over 75 
different charitable organizations and government agencies. Mr. Salinas 
had a commitment to improve his community, especially its education, 
religion and health programs. The Trust has made it possible for the 
youth in Laredo to go to college through the scholarship portion and 
also provided healthcare services to the underserved. Javier B. Santos, 
trustee for the Salinas Trust on behalf of Fernando Salinas, will 
continue to provide services to Laredo and Webb County.
  In December of 2008, Mr. Salinas was honored as a ``Paul Harris 
Fellow''. He also worked heavily with the South Texas Food Bank and 
helped start Kids Cafes in El Cenizo, Rio Bravo and at the Main Boys 
and Girls Club in Laredo. He renovated the main building and set up an 
endowment for its maintenance for one million dollars. He has continued 
his philanthropic efforts with all organizations and institutions 
qualifying as 501 agencies in the community and completed the 
renovation of the Saint Anthony de Padua Chapel at St. Augustine High 
School. In 2008, he pledged one million dollars to Texas A&M 
International University for its College of Business Administration.
  At the time of his passing, his trust had initiated his contract for 
Laredo property that will serve as an off campus site of Laredo 
Community College. The property, a landmark home, will house special 
events, small classes and receptions, and allow for easier registration 
and information.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had the time to recognize the 
dedication, accomplishments, and commitment of the late Fernando 
``Chito'' Salinas.

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