[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 692]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO FRANCISCO (PACO) ROVIRA-CALIMANO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LUIS FORTUNO

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding individual, Mr. Francisco Rovira-Calimano, whose life work 
serves as an example to us all. He is a hard- working gentleman, an 
honest citizen, and a true humanitarian dedicated to the betterment of 
humanity. Today, Mr. Rovira-Calimano celebrates his 95th birthday--and 
this is a cause for great celebration.
  Paco, as everyone knows him in his beloved town of Guayama, Puerto 
Rico, was born on February 1, 1911, to Amalia Calimano-Diaz and Jose 
Rovira-Tomas, his hard-working parents, an exemplary couple in that 
lovely town by the Guamani River. As the eldest child, Paco soon 
learned the value of sharing, supporting others, fairness, and hard 
work principles--values which he has sustained throughout his long and 
fruitful life. He was an exceptional son, who for 20 years took care of 
all his mother's needs after his father passed away. He is a man of few 
words but strong actions and convictions.
  While growing up, he attended the Guayama public schools system 
during his elementary school years, then St. Augustine Academy in San 
Juan and completed high school at Peekskill Military Academy in New 
York State. He attended college at Louisiana State University and 
graduated from The New York State Institute of Agriculture in 1934. 
Since childhood, he had worked at the family dairy farm ``La Cuadra'', 
doing extensive manual labor, and upon graduation he returned to work 
there. Later, he also acquired ``La Tuna'', a farm which he skillfully 
managed raising sugar cane, plantains, cattle and tending to his 
beloved Paso Fino horses.
  Over the years, Paco was involved in many civic endeavors. He joined 
and became an active member of the Farmers Association of Puerto Rico. 
Additionally, he was an active member of the Regulatory Board of the 
Milk Producing Industry, of which he is still an honorary member. He 
has also been a member of the Guayama Rotary Club for over 40 years and 
served as its president in 1957. He was a member and an active board 
member of the ``Asociacion de Duenos de Caballos de Paso Fino de Puerto 
Rico'', (Paso Fino Horse Owner Association). For many years he 
collaborated with the ``Asociacion Agropecuaria'' (Agriculture and 
Livestock Association) from Mayaguez, and was a board member for two 
years. His main goal was to bring together people from all walks of 
life sharing a common interest.
  Paco's life spans through WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean 
war, the Vietnam conflict, and the two gulf wars in Iraq. He has seen 
17 Presidents enter the White House and even though he is an American 
citizen residing in Puerto Rico, he unfortunately cannot vote for the 
President because of where he lives. However, he has always wanted to 
see Puerto Rico become an integral part of our powerful nation.
  Mr. Speaker, at 95 years of age, Paco continues to work hard every 
day. He is currently the President of the Campoamor Corporation, and 
the Santa Elena Development Company. This exceptional human being is 
married to Elsa Sabater-Recio. They recently celebrated their 65th 
wedding anniversary. He is the loving father of 5, the doting 
grandfather of 14, beloved great-grandfather of 11, and father figure 
of many, many more.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Francisco Rovira-
Calimano on his 95th birthday and to thank him for sharing his 
wonderful life, his heart, his time, and his energy with his family, 
the people of Guayama, and all Puerto Ricans. Mr. Speaker, he has set a 
high standard for all of us to follow.

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