[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1466-E1467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE FOR NELSON RODRIGUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 19, 2019

  Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of a 
leading Fort Worth Hispanic leader, Mr. Nelson Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez 
was the founder and owner of The Nelrod Company of Fort Worth and a 
steadfast leader in the development of Hispanic chambers of commerce in 
Texas and across the nation. He passed away last month after a brief 
battle with pancreatic cancer.
  Mr. Rodriguez began his entrepreneurial career as a 10-year-old shoe 
shiner in south Texas. He worked in the family grocery store throughout 
his youth and returned to manage the family business after completing 
his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He went 
on to run an award-winning newspaper, as well as organize other 
entrepreneurs to form the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 
where he became the first chair and president at the young age of just 
27.
  The next year, Nelson moved to Washington, D.C. following his 
appointment to serve in the Reagan administration. During his tenure in 
our government, he served as the youngest Senior Executive at the 
Department of Commerce, won the Secretarial Achievement Award at the 
Department of Transportation, and the Affordable Housing Award at the 
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

[[Page E1467]]

  Nelson was a family man, a business man, and a community man. He was 
a valuable pioneer who helped pave the way for minority businesses in 
Fort Worth and across our country. Nelson and his wife shared 45 years 
of marriage together with their four sons, three daughters, and four 
grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by our great city of Fort 
Worth.

                          ____________________