[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 TRIBUTE TO LEOPOLDO ``CONDO'' GONZALES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 6, 1999

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a husband and father, 
a veteran and war hero, and a member of the San Diego community who 
died on November 7, 1998, at the age of 75.
  Leopoldo ``Condo'' Gonzales was born to Sophia and Francisco Gonzales 
on October 7, 1923. In 1941, he met Connie Briones, and they were 
married on July 14, 1943.
  Condo joined the Army in 1942 to serve his country in World War II. 
He served with the 63d Engineer Battalion in Europe until the end of 
the war, and received the Campaign Medal, three Bronze Stars, and two 
Victory Medals.
  Condo and Connie began their family with the birth of their first 
child, Robert, in 1946. Joining Robert was his brother, Frank, in 1948 
and sister, Margie, in 1952.
  After the war years, Condo worked for the Cannery and Cudahy Meat 
Packing Company. He was a member of Masonry Union Local No. 89 and 
worked for several construction companies before his retirement.
  Condo and his family lived in the Linda Vista area of San Diego for 
many years before moving to their farm in Lakeside, CA. Condo enjoyed 
gardening, and his farm was full of watermelons, corn, and animals. In 
1956, they moved back to San Diego, to the Sierra Mesa area. In his 
retirement years, Condo enjoyed especially his children, grandchildren, 
and great-grandchildren.
  His was a wonderful life. He was a man who did his duty to his 
country, who raised his family well, and who contributed to his 
community. He is survived by Connie, his wife of 55 years, as well as 
his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. My thoughts and 
prayers go out to his wife and family and to the larger community that 
was touched by his presence.

                          ____________________