[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16901-16902]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MACEDONIO A. PADILLA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2000

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with particular sadness that I 
offer this memorial tribute to Mr. Macedonio A. Padilla of Pico Rivera, 
California, a politically active citizen of the 34th Congressional 
District. Mac Padilla served his community with an inspired passion for 
education, insisting on the importance of broadening the horizons of 
young minds.
  Born in Los Angeles, California, on September 12, 1929, Mr. Padilla 
grew up with his family in the greater Los Angeles community. Having 
not completed his high school education, he enlisted in the United 
States Army and served his country in World War II.
  He had two daughters, Sylvia and Margaret, with his first wife, 
Antolina Barba, whom he married in 1950 and divorced some years later. 
As a single man, he was employed at

[[Page 16902]]

the Los Angeles Times and later at Farmer John's Meat Distributors.
  In 1997, Mr. Padilla finally met the love of his life. He and his new 
wife, Lilian Aguilar, were fortunate to have her daughter from a 
previous marriage, Theresa, and were later blessed with Rosalie, their 
only daughter together. Mr. Padilla raised his four daughters, as well 
as his twelve grandchildren, teaching them that academic excellence was 
most important. Putting in much of his personal time and effort into 
his ideas, he was an assistant at South El Ranchito Elementary School. 
He loved to educate children. He was also a prominent voice with the 
local city officials and legislative members.
  Even in his eventual health conditions, Mr. Padilla spoke his mind 
when it mattered most. He made it his life-long goal to help improve 
his community to the best of his abilities.
  Macedonio Padilla passed away on July 18, 2000. He is survived by his 
four children, their spouses, and his twelve grandchildren: His 
constant devotion to the members of his community, his family, and his 
country will forever be remembered.
  Mr. Speaker, I extend our sincere sympathy to his family and ask 
God's comforting graces for them in their time of sorrow.

                          ____________________