[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING RAYFORD GUZARDO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. RANDY K. WEBER, SR.

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2014

  Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 
rise today to recognize the 90th birthday of Mr. Rayford Guzardo of 
Nederland, Texas. Mr. Guzardo is a remarkable and respected member of 
our community on the Texas Gulf Coast. His life and career exemplify a 
selfless and tireless commitment to his family, community, and to our 
great nation. This weekend, Mr. Guzardo will gather with his wife, 
children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to celebrate a life of 
what is rightly called a member of our greatest generation.
  Rayford Guzardo was born on April 6, 1924 in Nederland, Texas. He 
enlisted in the United States Air Force after the start of World War 
II, after he served in Italy. He flew heroically as a tail gunner on a 
B-24 ``Liberator'', and bravely weathered a year's captivity as a 
prisoner of war when is plane crashed during a mission over Hungary. 
Upon returning home from his military service, he married his lovely 
wife, Virginia, in 1949. Together, they built a family and a business 
in Nederland. Never opposed to honest, hard work, Rayford labored long 
hours as the owner of the family business; a local feed store that 
supplies the Jefferson County community with everything from livestock 
feed and garden necessities, to knowledge and know-how which he offered 
with traditional southern hospitality. Rayford has dedicated his life 
to family, community and to the Lord, our God. He has spent the past 90 
years setting an example of courage, honor, loyalty and kindness to 
which we can all aspire.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Rayford Guzardo on this 
milestone. I thank him for his outstanding service to our nation. I am 
proud to join his friends and family in celebrating his 90th year, and 
I wish him continued health and happiness.

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