[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4111-4112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH PADDILLA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
recognize Mr. Joseph Paddilla of Denver, Colorado. Mr. Paddilla's 
efforts have helped countless members of the Colorado community. 
Through his construction work, Joe has made a difference in the lives 
of others.
  Joe began his career in construction while still in high school, 
helping his father to build and remodel kitchens. Following high 
school, he attended the University of Florida. In 1982, Joe started his 
own business, Town & Country Kitchens, designing and manufacturing 
custom kitchens. In his role as owner, Joe was a pioneer in the 
construction of handicapped accessible kitchens even before building 
codes had mandated their construction. It was for this kind of forward 
thinking that Mr. Paddilla was awarded the Mayor's Award for 
Outstanding Contribution to the Disabled Community in 1983.
  Mr. Paddilla's efforts to help the handicapped community have been 
innumerable. On behalf of Police Officer Toby Bethel, who was injured 
in the line of duty, Joe was instrumental in designing and financing a 
kitchen that Officer Bethel could use. Joe worked diligently with the 
Denver Home Builders Foundation to assist Officer Bethel. I would like 
personally to thank Mr. Paddilla for all of his hard work on this 
project. He and his company have also designed and built a $1.5 
million, state-of-the-art home as a donation to Cherish the Children, 
an organization that provides

[[Page 4112]]

educational assistance to children. He is currently the president and 
chairman of the Costuyendo Education Network, a program that educates 
minority and immigrant construction workers through bilingual 
education, teaching them how to start their own businesses in Colorado. 
Mr. Paddilla has helped his community in many ways, and continues with 
his active involvement in various philanthropic organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I recognize Mr. Joseph 
Paddilla before this body of Congress and this nation. Through his 
efforts to help his community, Mr. Paddilla has served others in an 
exceptional manner, and I feel honored to have the opportunity to pay 
tribute to him.

                          ____________________