[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 17, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE OF RETIRED FRESNO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ARMANDO 
                               RODRIGUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2017

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the 
life of Judge Armando Rodriguez. Judge Rodriguez was an influential and 
honorable servant to the San Joaquin Valley. He was known for being a 
mentor to many, never hesitating to give his time to others. The San 
Joaquin Valley will be forever indebted to Judge Rodriguez for his 
tireless efforts on behalf of the community.
  Armando Rodriguez was born on October 31, 1929 to Jorge and Carmen 
Rodriguez. He was ninth of twelve children. His parents immigrated from 
Mexico, first settling in Merced, later moving to Fresno. After 
graduating from Edison High School, Armando married his high school 
sweetheart Betty Raya in 1950. During the Korean War, Judge Rodriguez 
served in the United States Air Force as a Morse code radio operator. 
Following the war, he attended Fresno State and then law school in San 
Francisco on the GI Bill.
  Judge Rodriguez began his law career working with the Alameda County 
Legal Aid Society and then with the California Rural Legal Assistance 
in Madera before moving onto a private practice in Fresno. In 1972, he 
became the first Latino elected onto the Fresno County Board of 
Supervisors. Then in 1975, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Judge 
Rodriguez to the Municipal Court, making him the first Hispanic judge 
to serve on the Fresno Municipal Court. Three years later he was 
elected as the first Hispanic judge to serve on the Fresno County 
Superior Court.
  As a strong advocate for education and the arts, Judge Rodriguez and 
his wife Betty, continually worked to make advances in the community. 
In honor of his wife's passing, he created a memorial scholarship fund 
to aid local college students. In addition, he and his wife were two of 
the founders of Arte Americas. To support the cultural arts, he 
contributed generous donations, engaged in community service, and 
personally refinanced the building's mortgage.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of 
Judge Armando Rodriguez, whose generosity and unending dedication to 
the community will be greatly missed. Judge Rodriguez's memory will 
live on through the contributions he made to our Valley. It is my honor 
to join his family and many friends in celebrating his impactful life, 
which will never be forgotten.

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