[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15916]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO JUDGE ARMANDO V. RODRIGUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2005

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay a special 
tribute to my friend Judge Armando V. Rodriguez, who recently 
celebrated more than thirty-two years as a Judge in the Harris County 
Justice Court.
  Judge Armando V. Rodriguez is a native Houstonian who received his 
Bachelors of Business Administration, Bachelor of Law, and Doctor of 
Jurisprudence degrees from the University of Houston. He has been an 
active community leader in Harris County for over 40 years and has been 
an active member of a number of civic clubs and boards. He is truly one 
of the most dedicated public servants in our great city of Houston.
  In 1972, Judge Rodriguez received the distinction of being appointed 
as one of the first Hispanics to preside over the City of Houston's 
Municipal Court system.
  In 1973, he was the first Hispanic to be appointed Justice of the 
Peace by the Commissioners Court of Harris County, and by election has 
continuously held that office and is currently serving as the Presiding 
Judge. From 1992 to 1993, he was Vice Chairman of the Justice of the 
Peace Section of the State Bar of Texas.
  Mr. Speaker, at the invitation of then President Jimmy Carter, Judge 
Rodriguez addressed the Conference on Hispanic Heritage in Washington, 
DC on the future of the Hispanic Community.
  In the early 1980's Judge Rodriguez and I Co-Founded Houston's Black-
Brown Coalition. This organization was designed to bring African-
Americans and Hispanics together to work on issues of common interests. 
In addition, Mr. Speaker, in 1969, Judge Rodriguez founded Fiestas 
Patrias, a non-profit organization dedicated to promote an awareness of 
their culture and heritage among young Hispanics.
  Judge Rodriguez has been the recipient of the Alex Award from the 
Houston NAACP Legal Program and the Benito Juarez Medallion from then 
President Luis of Mexico, the highest honor given a non-resident of 
Mexico for creating better goodwill and understanding between Mexico 
and the United States.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my friend, Judge Armando V. 
Rodriguez for thirty-two years of outstanding service to our community.

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