[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21221-21222]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO MR. GYLMAR (GIO) ROBERTO SIMOES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 21, 2002

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my 
colleagues to a constituent in the 6th District of New Jersey. It is 
with great pleasure that I introduce Mr. Gylmar (Gio) Roberto Simoes, 
who is being honored by the Latino American Committee of Monmouth 
County.

[[Page 21222]]

  Gylmar Simoes was born in Brazil and moved to the United States in 
1979. He and his wife Linda as well as their three children, Jonathan, 
Samantha and Emerson live in Long Branch. Gio, as he is best known 
around town, is not only very active in the community, he is also the 
owner and editor of the Latino USA Newspaper which is published in both 
Spanish and Portuguese.
  In 1996, Gio founded and directed the ``Annual Brazilian Day in Long 
Branch Festival'' which is celebrated every Labor Day weekend and draws 
over 7,000 Latinos every year. In 1997, he founded and directed the 
``Annual City of Long Branch Soccer Cup'' which became the largest 
adult soccer tournament in the State of New Jersey, with participation 
of over 35 soccer teams from five states including New Jersey, New 
York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Georgia. Gio was one of the 
Principals in the creation of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of 
Monmouth County and was the founder of the PEB (Pais de estudantes 
Brasileiros) Parents of Brazilian Students of Long Branch. Gio has also 
worked as a Spanish and Portuguese translator for the Assembly of God 
Church, the prisons and drug rehabilitation centers in New Jersey and 
New York.
  Gio founded the Latino USA Newspaper 2 years ago to serve the Latino 
Communities throughout Monmouth County. The newspaper can now be found 
in 21 cities throughout New Jersey. It is in full color and reaches 
over 60,000 Latino readers per edition. The newspaper was awarded ``La 
Pluma de Oro'' in January 2002 by the APH (Associacion de Periodistas 
Hispanos) as the fastest growing Latino newspaper in the tri-state 
area.
  In 2001, Gio received the Brazilian Man of the Year award given by 
the Brazilian Association of Monmouth County and in 2002 received the 
Long Branch Mary Cox ``Man of the Year'' award.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere hope that my colleagues will join me in 
honoring and recognizing, Mr. Gylmar Simoes, as the Latino American 
Committee of Monmouth County honors him for his unwavering commitment 
to the Latino community.

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