[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24055]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO RICHARD LOPEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RANDY NEUGEBAUER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this time to 
remember Richard Lopez, a long-time champion of those less fortunate in 
West Texas. Mr. Lopez passed away on June 8, 2008, at the age of 74.
  Richard Lopez inherited his charitable spirit from his father, with 
whom he would travel long distances as a child to collect fruit and 
vegetables to deliver to their neighbors in need. He carried these 
lessons learned as a child forward and become known for his work as the 
executive director of the Guadalupe Economic Services Corporation and 
as the cofounder of the South Plains Food Bank.
  Born in Edinburg, Texas, Mr. Lopez attended the University of 
Mississippi and married Rachel Bustillos on April 7th, 1982 in Lubbock, 
Texas. Following the destructive tornado that struck Lubbock in 1970, 
Mr. Lopez worked to help rebuild devastated parts of North Lubbock.
  He was a tireless advocate for area migrant workers and of the less 
fortunate in Lubbock. He was widely known as the ``Cesar Chavez of West 
Texas'' because of his compassion for others. A rare leader, Mr. Lopez 
never missed an opportunity to help people find affordable housing or 
to offer encouragement to farm laborers before they left to work on the 
harvest.
  Mr. Lopez was dedicated to his community. In addition to more than 25 
years of service with the Guadalupe Economic Services Corporation and 
the South Plains Food Bank, he was the founder of the Ad Hoc Committee 
for Farm Workers in West Texas and a founder of the Lubbock Indigent 
Health Consortium. He also received countless community service awards 
in recognition of his devotion to others.
  Those from District 19, including myself, will miss Mr. Lopez's 
enthusiasm for life, dedication to the betterment of his community, and 
his great passion for helping those around him.

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