[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 182 (Friday, October 23, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING TOMAS T. ALEJO, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 23, 2020

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
Tomas T. Alejo, Jr., a devoted pastor, educator, activist, and 
community leader from the central coast of California. Tomas will be 
remembered as a tireless advocate for social change in Watsonville and 
Phoenix, Arizona.
  Tomas was born on March 16, 1946, in the southern Texas border region 
of Weslaco to a humble migrant farmworker family. Tomas and his family 
migrated from South Texas to California in the 1950s, where they worked 
in the Salinas, Santa Clara, Central, and Pajaro Valleys picking crops. 
They eventually settled and established roots on the Central Coast in 
Watsonville. Tomas attended Gonzales High School and graduated from 
Gilroy High School in 1965. From 1966 through 1968, he proudly served 
our nation in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.
  Tomas earned his teaching credential from San Jose State University 
and taught for 24 years at the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs 
Rehabilitation Center in Watsonville. There, he trained inmates in the 
trade of auto body repair and painting to help them positively 
transform their lives and have employment opportunities upon release. 
He also taught auto body repair and painting classes for six years at 
Hartnell College in Salinas.
  Tomas was also a longtime pastor for the Apostolic Church and served 
five years doing missionary work in the poorest parts of South Texas 
and Mexico with his family. He later cofounded Hope Ministries Church 
in Watsonville, where he was heavily involved in many community events 
and activities throughout his life. Tomas contributed to countless 
policy advocacy efforts and co-founded the Annual Watsonville Peace and 
Unity March in 1994 to end gang and domestic violence. Tomas also 
served as a contract negotiator for the United Farm Workers in the late 
1970s and was invited to lead the opening prayer at the California 
State Capitol in Sacramento in 2014 for the state's Cesar Chavez Day 
Ceremony.
  During his retirement in Phoenix, Tomas was heavily involved in 
community action defending immigrants. He was especially passionate 
about helping the homeless and less fortunate. In biblical tradition, 
Tomas deeply believed in the righteousness of defending the poor and 
most vulnerable in our communities.
  Tomas will be remembered for his lifetime of community service and 
virtuous spirit. We, as a community, celebrate his legacy and all he 
has done for the central coast of California. Madam Speaker, I ask that 
my colleagues join me in honoring the life of Tomas T. Alejo, Jr.

                          ____________________