[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 134 (Friday, August 9, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING LUCIO ``CHIO'' GONZALES AND BUTTER TORRES GONZALES

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TJ COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 9, 2019

  Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
leadership of Lucio ``Chio'' Gonzales and Butter Torres Gonzales. 
Together, this couple has dedicated over 60 years of community and 
public service to the city of Delano, California and the Central 
Valley.
  A native of Blythe, California, Mr. Gonzales settled in the Central 
Valley in the 1950s after spending his early years working as a migrant 
farmworker in the region's rich agricultural fields. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gonzales met in the historic farmworker community of Delano and were 
married on November 24, 1956. The couple took over ownership and 
operation of the People's Market in 1969, and the two worked together 
side by side managing the grocery store in Delano for 40 years.
  Mr. and Mrs. Gonzales formed a strong bond over the years with the 
Filipino Community of Delano. The two have served as advocates and 
allies for the inclusion and representation of Filipinos in Delano 
civic life. They played an instrumental role in electing Leonard T. 
Velasco to the Delano City Council in 1972, the first Filipino American 
to serve on the elected body.
  Mr. and Mrs. Gonzales have also worked to ensure the success of 
Delano's Philippine Weekend community celebration for the last 45 
years. They have helped build the event from a small community 
gathering all those years ago, to a large month-long festival that 
draws thousands of visitors from across the country. It is fitting that 
Mr. and Mrs. Gonzales are being honored by the community with the 2019 
Mabuhay Award.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Lucio 
``Chio'' Gonzales and Butter Torres Gonzales for their dedication and 
service to the Filipino Community of Delano, the city of Delano, and 
the Central Valley.

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