[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 29, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E694-E695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF SILVESTRE DURAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2020

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of 
Silvestre Duran, an outstanding member of our Toledo community.
  Silvestre worked at the Jeep plant before settling into a long career 
at the Catholic Diocese of Toledo as its Hispanic Outreach Coordinator. 
He was one of Ohio's pioneers of Tejano music, hosting his own Saturday 
radio program, Radio Fiesta, from 1955 to 2008. He saw it as an 
opportunity to bring joy into the lives of many migrant families who 
were working the fields and those, like his family, that had settled in 
the area.
  During these busy years, Silvestre also owned and operated a Mexican 
restaurant in South Toledo called Don Ysidro's. Many churchgoers and 
late-night revelers would go to Don Ysidro's for all the Mexican 
favorites. He engaged his entire family in working at the restaurant.
  Silvestre was an advocate for the Latino community in the Toledo area 
during its formative years. He served on countless committees, boards 
and organizations advocating on behalf of Latino community. He received 
numerous awards and accolades for his hard work. He taught GED classes 
early on and worked to get people from the community hired into good 
paying jobs at the Jeep plant.
  He was a founder and served as board President for La Raza Unida de 
Ohio, and founder and commissioner for the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/
Latino Affairs. Silvestre was a lifetime member of the Farm Labor 
Organizing Committee (FLOC) of the AFL-CIO, attending rallies and 
demonstrations in support of Baldemar Velasquez. Last year, prior to 
his 90th birthday, he traveled with FLOC to North Carolina to protest 
the treatment of migrant farmworkers in the tobacco fields.
  Silvestre dedicated his last decades of life to music and singing. He 
could be seen at many Latino social events singing and playing his 
guitar with the trio Los Distinguidos alongside Francisco Ibarra and 
Jesse Ponce. His musical influence was passed on to his grandchildren 
Steve Longoria; Silvestre Roberto and Jose Duran; and Ricky May who all 
sing and play the guitar and piano.
  Silvestre also enjoyed traveling with his family, whether it was 
visiting Texas or traveling to Spain and Mexico. You could find him at 
SS Peter & Paul Church attending Sunday Mass every week. He was a man 
of integrity, inspiration, and kindness.
  Whether serving his community, entertaining a crowd, or bringing joy 
to countless people,

[[Page E695]]

Silvestre will not be forgotten. We offer his family and friends our 
prayers and hope that they find comfort in the wonderful memories of 
what Silvestre Duran had meant to each of the people who shared in his 
life.
  ``We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress 
and prosperity for our community . . . Our ambitions must be broad 
enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes 
and for our own.''--Cesar Chavez

                          ____________________