[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 168 (Thursday, December 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO MARY JESSIE GONZALEZ ROQUE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 27, 2012

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a 
very special woman, Mary Jessie Gonzalez Roque, known by her friends as 
``Susie.'' She was an inspiring community leader, a trusted staff 
member, and a dear friend who is sadly no longer with us.
  As all Representatives know, good staff makes a Member, and they are 
essential to the operations and effectiveness of Congress. Susie was a 
valued employee of mine who retired after thirty-three years of 
dedicated service to the 20th District of Texas.
  Susie's parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico before 
she was born so that they might have a piece of the American dream. 
They raised Susie, their first born, and her four siblings in San 
Antonio. Susie exhibited her value of education throughout her 
elementary, high school, and college careers. She parlayed this love of 
education and her skill at helping others into a job as a teacher at 
Burbank High School in San Antonio during the 1970-1971 academic year.
  In 1971, Susie obtained a summer job in the District Office of my 
father, the late U.S. Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez. She was hired 
full-time to handle casework for the 20th District of Texas and her 
summer job turned into a thirty-three-year career. Susie expressed 
pride in working for my father, a notable figure in Texas and U.S. 
politics. He was celebrated in San Antonio as being a man who gave a 
voice to those who could not speak for themselves. Susie was vital to 
my father's efforts in this endeavor because she worked in close 
contact with people who could not navigate through the often convoluted 
systems of federal bureaucracies by themselves.
  I was blessed to be elected to represent the 20th District of Texas 
in 1998. Like my father before me, I recognize the value of providing 
good constituent services to those whom I represent. Therefore, I hired 
Susie to continue in her casework position so that she could continue 
to provide important services for constituents. Her many 
accomplishments led me to promote her to be my District Office 
Director.
  Additionally, Susie was a leader in our community and an incredible 
advocate for Mexican-American women. She was one of the founding 
members of the Mexican American Business and Professional Women's Club 
of San Antonio. Throughout her life she fought to help Mexican-American 
women achieve equity in the workplace and the community.
  In the five and one-half years that Susie worked for me, she proved 
herself invaluable to me, my staff, and the constituents of the 20th 
District of Texas. I am sincerely proud to count myself among those who 
have had the opportunity to know and work with Susie. She was part of 
the Gonzalez family. She was there not only for the ups and downs of 
political life, but she also shared in our family's joys and sorrows 
through the years. Her enduring dedication to serving the 20th 
Congressional District will continue to set the standard for service to 
our community. Susie enriched all of our lives and that is why we mourn 
her today and will greatly miss her tomorrow.

                          ____________________