[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 98 (Tuesday, June 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Tribute to Tom Rodriguez

  Mr. President, there is a second person I would like to recognize as 
well. His name is Tom Rodriguez. This is Tom. Tom was a friend of my 
father's. As Latino leaders in Las Vegas, my father and Tom worked 
together to promote and strengthen the Hispanic community in Southern 
Nevada.
  As a powerful voice in my State, Tom tirelessly advocated for Latinos 
throughout his entire life, and I am so sad to lose his voice. But I am 
also proud of the positive influence and lasting political, social, and 
educational change he brought to our State.
  Tom was born, actually, in Topeka, KS, in 1940 and grew up in a 
neighborhood referred to as ``the Bottoms,'' which exposed him early on 
to a community rich in cultural and ethnic diversity. And after 
graduating from college, Tom began pursuing writing and activism.
  In 1981, Tom moved to Nevada with his then-fiancee and future wife, 
Doris Soto, to work as the director of planning and evaluation for the 
Las Vegas Clark County Consortium. For the next 5 years, Tom supported 
the local training and employment association of a large portion of 
southern Nevada.
  Tom then went on to work in the Clark County manager's office, where 
he supported the development of the League of United Latin American 
Citizens' multipurpose senior center. He modernized the region's 
justice court system, and he ushered in the emerging television cable 
industry in Nevada.
  Tom later served as the first executive manager for Diversity and 
Affirmative Action programs with the Clark County School District--
which, by the way, is the third largest school district in the Nation--
and for 23 years in this role, Tom worked tirelessly to ensure equality 
and opportunity within our education system.
  Throughout his life, Tom authored and coauthored many books and 
articles that documented the Latino experience in Nevada, which he felt 
had been neglected by previous historians. Tom played a critical role 
in chronicling the dynamic growth and successes of Nevada's expansive 
Latino community.
  Tom himself was essential to that success. For 6 years, he 
coordinated the Latin Chamber of Commerce's career day scholarship 
program, which awarded funds to Latino students at colleges and 
universities throughout Nevada; but after learning that many 
scholarship recipients struggled with finding a support system and 
adjusting to life on campus, Tom made it his personal responsibility to 
help them.
  So, in 1994, Tom cofounded the Latino Youth Leadership Conference to 
bring Latino high school students together and prepare them for 
college. Now that conference is entering its 31st consecutive year of 
operating. The program's over 1,500 alumni have gone on to achieve 
success in their chosen fields, ranging from lawyers to educators to 
business owners and even Members of Congress.
  I am incredibly grateful for Tom's lifelong commitment to advancing 
the Latino community in Nevada. Tom believed that his purpose in life 
was to help others achieve more than they thought possible. His 
professional achievements are only matched by the pride and love he had 
for his family and his friends.
  I will say I will truly miss Tom, but I know that his impact on 
Nevada will be felt for generations to come.
  I thank the Presiding Officer as it is an honor to come to the floor 
to be able to talk about these two incredible men from Nevada.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Markey). The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.