[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11768]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JOSEPH DE LA CRUZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 19, 2006

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph De La Cruz, 
owner of the NAPA Auto Parts Store in Laredo, Texas, on his being 
selected as a recipient of the Distinguished Business Awards by the 
Laredo Development Foundation's Small Business Development Center, the 
U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Laredo Chamber of Commerce.
  As a young man, Joseph De La Cruz worked at an automotive parts 
store, and the auto parts industry intrigued him with the vast types of 
automotive parts needed to keep with the constantly changing 
marketplace. During this time frame, Mr. De La Cruz received a grant 
from the United States Government which enabled him to attend college 
upon the condition that he work for the Government for a period of at 
least 5 years. After almost 25 years of federal service, Mr. De La Cruz 
retired in 1998.
  Mr. De La Cruz renewed his interest in the automotive parts industry 
by exploring the purchase of an existing NAPA Auto Parts Store along 
with his son, Joseph De La Cruz II. The project was discussed with 
Albert De Llano of Commerce Bank, a preferred Small Business 
Administration Lender. Together, with technical support from Business 
Development Specialist Gladys Rangel of the Laredo Economic Development 
Foundation SBDC, the dream became a reality. Shortly after the purchase 
of NAPA Auto Parts Store, he increased the stock inventory, hired more 
employees, increased marketing, and all these initiatives established 
the infrastructure for success. After one year in operation, the store 
achieved a sales increase of 116 percent, making Mr. De La Cruz one of 
the leader in the auto industry in Laredo, Texas.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to honor Mr. De La Cruz, owner 
of NAPA Auto Parts Store in Laredo, Texas, in recognition of his 
selection as a recipient of the Distinguished Business Awards.

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