[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 81 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E676-E677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      LUPE FRAGA: A HOUSTON LEGEND

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Lupe Fraga is a living Houston 
legend. Lupe and his family are well-known in Houston. Lupe is the 
owner of one of the most successful businesses in Texas, Tejas Office 
Products located in the Houston Heights. When reflecting on his 
incredible career, Lupe says he was simply in the right place at the 
right time, but had the guiding hand of God. Mr. Speaker, he always 
made the most of his incredible God-given opportunities.
  Lupe was born in Second Ward on the east side of Houston, the 
youngest of six. As a child, another Houston legend, ``Mama'' Ninfa 
Rodriguez Laurenzo, the namesake of the world famous Ninfa's 
Restaurant, was like a second mother to him. This immigrant community 
with a warm family atmosphere, deep rooted values, and cherished 
relationships, shaped Lupe's life and career.
  He says when he was a kid, he was a ``little athletic'' so he got a 
chance to play baseball at St. Thomas High School. Lupe took that 
chance and turned it into a baseball scholarship to Texas A&M 
University where he was a member of A Athletics and the Corps of 
Cadets. He excelled at school and graduated with a degree in 
accounting. Upon graduation, he joined the Army, spent three years in 
France, earned the rank of First Lieutenant, and was honorably 
discharged. When he returned to Houston in the 1960s, Lupe befriended 
the office supply representative at his new job and at age 26 he 
decided to take him up on an offer to buy the office supply company. 
Tejas Office Products was born. Supplier diversity and Houston's 
inclusiveness helped Tejas grow. In the 1970's Lupe was given one 
account with Shell Oil Company. Never to pass on an extraordinary 
opportunity, Lupe grew to all nine Houston Shell locations and set the 
course for Tejas to become the largest independent office products 
company in the Houston area.
  Lupe never lets anyone forget that Tejas Office Products is a family-
run business. His three children have roles in the company. Lupe's son 
Stephen describes him as not only a loving father, but a trusted mentor 
who loves people and believes in giving back. He never forgot his east 
end roots. ``Dad always told us the community raises the child, he 
inspired me and my siblings to serve, he wanted all of us to help the 
community.''
  Lupe took people under his wing and made sure to offer them 
opportunities like he had. He gladly introduced people into the 
community and helped them make connections. Because he believed so 
strongly in education, he took pride in helping Father T.J. Martinez 
make the connections he needed to start Cristo Rey Jesuit School. A 
quiet leader, Lupe would say, ``My mother always taught me, be nice to 
people, not expecting anything in return. Just be a good person and do 
it for the right reasons.''
  Mr. Speaker, Stephen also told me, ``Dad taught me about 
relationships. He liked to get to know people and be good to people. He 
knew about the value of relationships and client satisfaction before 
there were any books on the subject.'' He was a pioneer in customer 
relationship building and believed that even with technology, people 
want to buy from people. Even with the emergence of big box retailers, 
Lupe found a way to innovate but stay independent, creating a 
partnership with a national office supply retailer to serve Fortune 50 
and Fortune 500 clients.
  Lupe has earned many accolades and achievements in his life including 
serving on the Texas A&M Board of Regents, Chairman of the Board of the 
Federal Reserve Bank Houston, Director and Executive Committee Member 
at the Greater Houston Partnership, and Chairman Emeritus of the 
Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He has been honored with many 
awards including Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M, 2015 Texas A&M 
Athletics Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, Mays Business School 
Outstanding Alumnus, Fathers of the Year award presented by Community 
Partners in Greater Houston, and the 2012 State of Texas Small Business 
Award.
  Lupe and his wife Irene have three children and five grandchildren. 
He loves his Aggies and his Astros and spending time with his 
grandkids. Looking back on his success, Lupe has said, ``It's been an 
experience of people, it's not me, I've got to say that. It's about the 
people that have helped, the people who have encouraged, the people 
that have been there for you. That's what's done it. I take no 
credit.''

[[Page E677]]

  Well, today I rise in the House of Representatives to give Lupe the 
credit. Credit for his impact on business, his impact on Texas A&M, his 
impact on his community and his family.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________