[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         REMEMBERING GIL CHAVEZ

 Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, today I come before you with a 
heavy heart to honor the life of Gil Chavez. Mr. Chavez died on 
November 30, 2011, of injuries sustained in a car accident outside of 
West High School in Denver, CO. He was 63 years old.
  Mr. Chavez was a true community leader in every sense of the word. 
After graduating from Denver's West High School in 1967, Mr. Chavez 
spent the next 30 years of his life giving back to the school through 
teaching, coaching, and counseling. He was always there for his 
students, so much so that after retiring, he came back to volunteer 
coach for the wrestling team beside his son, Gil Junior, the current 
head coach at West. Mr. Chavez's family continues his legacy of always 
striving for excellence in all that they endeavor.
  Gil Chavez was a committed educator and coach who was a role model to 
the students he worked with. He was a sincere motivator, and he backed 
up his words with promises that he kept to his students. Mr. Chavez was 
always there for those who needed him with an ear to listen, with help 
figuring out classes or locating a tutor, and always believing in those 
who needed it most.
  To Mr. Chavez's entire family, I cannot imagine the sorrow you must 
be feeling. I hope that, in time, the pain of your loss will be eased 
by your pride in Gil's life and by your knowledge that his community 
will never forget him. His memory will live on in the team, the school, 
the community, and all those he has touched along the way.

                          ____________________