[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1035-E1036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING GOVERNOR RAUL H. CASTRO ON HIS 95TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Raul Hector 
Castro, Arizona's first Hispanic Governor, on the occasion of his 95th 
birthday on June 12, 2011. Raul Castro's legacy is imbedded in my home 
State's history for his high achievements despite the racism he 
experienced as a young Mexican immigrant raised in Arizona. Besides 
holding Arizona's highest State office, Governor Castro served as a 
United States Ambassador three times: to El Salvador, Bolivia, and 
Argentina. Last year, Governor Castro was honored with the prestigious 
Cesar E. Chavez Legacy Award at the Ninth Annual Cesar E. Chavez 
Foundation Gala in Phoenix. In addition, Governor Castro received the 
Arizona Legacy Award at the 52nd Annual Arizona Hispanic Chamber of 
Commerce's Black and White Ball.
  Governor Castro and co-author Dr. Jack August, Jr. have written a 
fascinating biography entitled ``Adversity Is My Angel: The Life and 
Career of Raul H. Castro.'' The book traces the astounding life of the 
former Governor through his childhood as a Mexican immigrant in a harsh 
land to his election as Governor and Presidentially appointed 
Ambassador. It chronicles how he overcame personal and racial prejudice 
to rise to the highest levels of accomplishment.
  During the last couple of years, the former Governor has been on a 
mission to visit and speak with middle school and high school students 
and encourage them to stay in school and get an education. Governor 
Castro has visited several schools throughout the State of Arizona 
sharing his legacy and more importantly stressing the value and 
importance of an education. Education is a top priority of Governor 
Castro, and the Institute that carries his name is housed at Phoenix 
College. The Raul H. Castro Institute is focused on improving the 
quality of life for the Latino community in Arizona and educating and 
strengthening partners that serve the Latino community by fostering 
connections with research institutions, promoting best practice 
dissemination, and impacting policy decisions in education, health and 
human services, leadership, and civic participation.
  The Honorable Raul H. Castro continues to provide vision and 
leadership in the State of Arizona, and I ask my colleagues today to 
join me in recognizing his life's accomplishments and his 95th 
birthday.

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