[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22964-22965]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF DIONICIO MORALES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 27, 2008

  Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a Latino 
civil rights leader and the founder of the Mexican American Opportunity 
Foundation, MAOF, Dionicio Morales, who passed away on September 24, 
2008.
  Dionicio was born to immigrant farm worker parents and was raised in 
Ventura County, California. Like many Mexican Americans of his 
generation, Dionicio struggled to achieve an education and he graduated 
from high school in 1937. Dionicio attended Santa Barbara State College 
and worked with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union early to ensure 
garment workers had better working conditions.
  Dionicio was a life-long community organizer who devoted his life to 
providing critical programs and resources to the Mexican-American 
community. He was a strong advocate and dedicated leader for the people 
of Los Angeles.
  In 1963, Dionicio became the founder and president of the Mexican-
American Opportunity Foundation, which provides the Mexican-American 
community with critical access to services and programs. These services 
include increased access to job skill training

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programs, repair programs for low-income homes, nutrition and 
employment aid for seniors, and many other critical programs that have 
dramatically improved the lives of many Mexican Americans in Los 
Angeles County and the surrounding areas. Dionicio later spent most of 
his life serving on several Federal, State, and county boards that gave 
him a voice which he used to advocate for the important issues that 
faced the Mexican-American community.
  Throughout my career in public service, I have had the pleasure to 
work with Dionicio and MAOF to increase economic and social justice in 
the Latino community. I am proud to have received the prestigious Aztec 
Award from MAOF in October 1996 and am committed to continuing this 
work to bring greater equality and opportunity to the Latino community.
  Dionicio will be remembered for his lifetime commitment to the 
Mexican-American community. I extend my sympathy to Dionicio's family 
in this difficult time. Dionicio's legacy will continue to live in 
MAOF. He will be dearly missed by the Latino community.

                          ____________________