[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 117 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF JOE DUARTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2013

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise in honor of 
Joe Duarte, who passed away on July 23 in Sacramento, at the age of 84. 
I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Duarte as his family 
and friends gather to celebrate his life and legacy.
  Mr. Duarte, a former Merchant Marine, devoted his life to helping our 
community. A lifelong athlete who played professional baseball with the 
St. Louis Browns, Mr. Duarte was committed to promoting recreational 
and academic activities for the youth of Sacramento. As a member of the 
Greater Sacramento Evening Optimist Club, in 1971 Mr. Duarte founded 
the Optimist All-Star baseball, basketball, and football games. He 
organized the best high school seniors from the Greater Sacramento area 
into teams to participate in these games. Not stopping with baseball, 
basketball, and football, Mr. Duarte also organized girls softball and 
volleyball games.
  Mr. Duarte created and organized the Youth Appreciation Night for 
Students from more than ten schools, which for over 20 years has 
recognized students who excel in academic, athletics and community 
service. In 2005, he created the Respect for Law program which honors 
seniors from the Criminal Justice Academies at Grant Union, John F. 
Kennedy, Hiram Johnson, and C. K. McClatchy high schools at a banquet 
which included their parents and Sacramento law enforcement officers.
  Mr. Duarte's honors include inductions into the San Francisco Parks 
and Recreation Hall of Fame in 1975, the Greater Sacramento Softball 
Association Hall of Fame, and the LaSalle Club Baseball Hall of Fame at 
Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento in 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in paying honor 
to Joe Duarte for being an exemplary member of the Sacramento 
community. His life and commitment to our community is an inspiration 
to us all. The Greater Sacramento area has lost a true citizen of the 
community who always put service above self. I ask that we take a 
moment and give our utmost respect and condolences to his wife, 
Phyllis, and their three children.

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