[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8072]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF STEVE LA MANTIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2005

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many 
accomplishments of Steve La Mantia, Junior Achievement of Laredo 
Business Hall of Fame Laureate.
  Mr. La Mantia grew up in McAllen, Texas, with his three brothers and 
sisters. He describes himself as having ``grown up farming'' on his 
family's farm on Mines Road. From an early age, he loved sports, and 
the persistence and competition that sports embody have become guiding 
values in his life.
  He graduated from McAllen high school, where he played football, and 
attended college at Texas A&M, where he served as a referee. As a 
businessman, Mr. La Mantia has been tremendously dedicated to giving 
back to the educational community. Since 1991, he has been raising 
money for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. In 2002, his family founded 
STARS: South Texas Academic Rising Scholars. STARS now provides 
students from the lower 22 counties of South Texas scholarship money to 
attend the college of their choice.
  Mr. La Mantia is one of his community's most successful businessmen, 
working as Vice President and part owner of L&F distributors in Laredo. 
His work is a testament to the power of family businesses to thrive and 
create growth for our communities.
  Mr. Steve La Mantia is a loyal Texan, a dedicated volunteer and 
philanthropist, and an exemplary businessman. I am happy that he has 
been chosen to receive the Laredo Junior Achievement Hall of Fame 
award, and I am proud to have had the chance to recognize him here 
today.

                          ____________________