[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING WALTER F. ULLOA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Ruiz) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life 
and legacy of Walter F. Ulloa, a friend and trailblazer who helped 
transform Spanish language media.
  Walter was a visionary. He was also a beloved husband, father, 
brother, and my dear friend.
  From B-Town, known as Brawley, to a global powerhouse, Walter got his 
start with humble beginnings in the Imperial Valley.
  He was born in the impoverished farmworker city of Brawley in 1949, 
back when it was still a segregated community. His family lived on B 
Street on the east side of the tracks.
  Like my parents and many others in the Imperial Valley, Walter's 
father, Walter Sr., and mother, Margaret, worked hard to give Walter 
and his brothers, Roland and Ronald, better opportunities for their 
futures.
  Every day for 4 years, his father would drive from Brawley to San 
Diego to attend law school, instilling in Walter and his brothers the 
values of honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic.
  His mother provided for the family at home, building a strong 
foundation for Walter and his brothers and instilling in them the 
values of kindness and compassion.
  Walter Sr. and Margaret's hard work helped move the family from the 
east side to the west side, and their guidance, support, and love 
helped Walter, Roland, and Ronald achieve great success.
  Walter's skill as a young tennis champion catapulted him from 
tournaments in Indio and Palm Springs, California, all the way to the 
University of Southern California, where he earned his bachelor's 
degree.
  He went on to attend Loyola Law School before briefly serving in the 
district attorney's office and working with the L.A. city youth 
employment summer program.
  It wasn't until Walter began working at KMEX-TV in L.A., though, that 
his career in Spanish broadcast media began. At KMEX, he learned the 
business from the ground up, first working as a writer and eventually 
becoming the station's news director.
  Walter's empire began to take shape when he joined forces with his 
business partners to acquire nearby stations, ultimately culminating in 
Entravision's founding. Under his watch, Entravision grew into a 
driving force in the media, delivering vital news to millions across 
the country.
  The thing is, Walter was more than just a great entrepreneur and 
businessman. He was also an exceptional leader who inspired his 
employees and increased representation across the board.
  As Entravision grew, Walter made it a point to get to know everyone 
at his company, from the service workers to the news crews to the 
office staff. Everyone mattered to Walter, and they knew it.
  Many looked to him as a father, a brother, and a mentor who inspired 
others with his integrity and authentic leadership. Through it all, he 
maintained his commitment to his roots, to diversity and inclusion, and 
to social justice. His mantra was: ``We, as Latinos, need to see 
ourselves reflected in the media, and we have the numbers to do it.''
  I can't tell you how much that means to me and how much it means for 
Latinos and Latinas from the Imperial Valley to the Coachella Valley 
and all across our Nation.
  Walter is an inspiration to us all. Born and bred in Brawley, he rose 
to the top. When it came to creating opportunities for others, he 
refused to take no for an answer.

  Being born in a segregated community, he fought for Latino and Latina 
representation at every turn. Whether with Entravision, the L.A. Music 
Center board, LA84 Foundation, or the board of trustees for the Kennedy 
Center, Walter's legacy can be seen on screens all across America.
  While we recognize the road ahead for equal representation is long, I 
have no doubt that future generations will carry the torch of his work 
to ensure we see the faces of Latinos and Latinas on our screens, that 
we hear the voices of Latinos and Latinas on the radio, and that we 
share the stories of Latinos and Latinas which are woven into the 
fabric of our Nation.
  I will miss him dearly, and I know that countless others will, too. I 
respect him and admire him greatly. He was a true, loyal friend. He 
also had a genuine interest in me, believed in me, encouraged me, and 
supported me through thick and thin.
  To his wife, Alexandra; son, Bruno; brothers, Roland and Ronald; and 
all his loved ones and to the entire Entravision family, know that you 
are in my heart and in my prayers.
  Together, as we mourn his passing, let us celebrate the blessing he 
was in all of our lives, the impact he had on our community, and the 
mark he has left on our Nation's history.

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