[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21062]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MANUEL ESQUEDA

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
recognition of Mr. Manuel Esqueda, a retired banker who over his 
lifetime helped send nearly 2,000 Latino students to college, many of 
whom were the first in their families to go.
  Manuel's dedication to his community and education came from his 
deep-seated connection to the Delhi neighborhood of Santa Ana, 
California, where he grew up and where his family was able to buy a 
home when other Mexican Americans were unable to do so. He was active 
in the development of the Delhi Community Center, which is now a 
centerpiece of that neighborhood.
  In honor of his community service, the Manuel Esqueda Elementary 
School was dedicated on September 8, 2005, to honor a man who never 
wanted recognition for himself but whose dedication to his community 
and to the Latino people of Santa Ana, California garnered him prestige 
and love.
  Manuel was honored to have a school named for him, and from his 
hospital bed he tried to hold on so he could be there for the first day 
of school. Unfortunately, Manuel passed away 2 days before he was able 
to witness the opening of this school with his name.
  He will be remembered fondly and his spirit will go on in all those 
young people who enter the doors of the Esqueda Elementary School in 
Santa Ana.

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