[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 74 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E676-E677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING OSCAR GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FILEMON VELA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2016

  Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Oscar M. Garcia of 
Willacy County, Texas. On April 20, 2016, his family gathered at the 
Garcia Ranch to celebrate his life and legacy, and I want to share the 
story of this important South Texan with my colleagues.
   Oscar Garcia was born on November 4, 1930, west of Sebastian, Texas, 
on the Las Anacuas Ranch. At a young age, he began working in the 
fields of South Texas.
   His wife, Hortencia Caballero, was born in 1945 near Lyford, Texas, 
and the couple married on June 15, 1952, in Lyford. Together they 
raised six children: Alma, Oscar Jr., Rolando, Armando, Reynaldo, and 
Elizabeth, and they had 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
   Mr. Garcia began operating a trucking company in 1948. The business 
prospered under his management, and, with the profits of the company, 
he was able to purchase farm land in Willacy and Cameron Counties. Over 
the years, he amassed thousands of acres of prime land--much of it 
being the same land that he and his father worked on as sharecroppers 
or field hands. He grew his business over time, employing many and 
contributing greatly to the local economy. Mr. Garcia operated his 
trucking company for more than 50 years and farmed for 40 years.

[[Page E677]]

   In 1972, Mr. and Mrs. Garcia purchased their homestead property on 
Business 77 between Sebastian and Lyford. Although Mr. Garcia built his 
home for his family to live in and enjoy, the family business had a 
central role. The most used room in the house was the office he shared 
with his wife, and the family used the vast acreage of the Garcia Ranch 
to store equipment, a practice that continues today.
   Mr. Garcia passed away on October 25, 2010. He was preceded in death 
by his son, Rolando. Until the day he died, Mr. Garcia continued to 
work hard, to provide for his family, and to earn the respect of every 
person he met.
   Since the loss of her husband, Mrs. Garcia has continued to manage 
and operate the property acquired during her husband's lifetime. 
Additionally, she remains dedicated to the legacy of hard work, 
respect, and caring for her community that she and her husband built 
together. She is an active member of her church and a patron of the 
local volunteer fire department, and established an annual scholarship 
for Lyford High School students.
   The recent community gathering to honor Mr. Garcia and the entire 
Garcia family was also a testament to the Willacy County community, 
which has been challenged greatly in recent years. Despite setbacks, 
Willacy County remains a community that is united and filled with the 
most valuable of all resources--people like Oscar Garcia who care about 
each other and the place they live. Perhaps the greatest legacy of 
Oscar Garcia's life is the inspiration to future generations to work 
hard and serve their community.
   Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in the House of Representatives in 
standing in honor of Oscar Garcia, his family, and his Willacy County 
community.

                          ____________________