[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21562-21563]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING ADAM DIAZ ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 14, 2009

  Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to 
praise and reflect upon the career of an outstanding public servant and 
community leader, Adam Diaz. I

[[Page 21563]]

would also like to take a moment to congratulate Mr. Diaz on his 
upcoming 100th birthday.
   For more than seventy years, Mr. Diaz has been a champion for the 
Mexican American community in Phoenix. A lifelong Arizonan, Mr. Diaz 
was born in Flagstaff on September 29, 1909, before moving to Phoenix, 
where he has lived for the past 94 years. He began his career working 
at the Luhrs Hotel as a messenger boy with Western Union. From this 
humble beginning, he eventually became the Superintendent of Properties 
for Luhrs Properties, a position he held until his retirement. During 
the 1970's, I had the occasion to see him and his brother at Luhrs and 
seek his counsel.
   Mr. Diaz is noted for having been elected as Phoenix's first Mexican 
American City Councilman in 1948. He served four years on the council 
and one year as vice-mayor of the city of Phoenix. Later, Diaz served 
for five years on the Phoenix Elementary School District Number One 
Governing Board.
   Mr. Diaz has served on the board of directors of several community-
based organizations including The Friendly House and Chicanos Por La 
Causa. He has also been actively involved in many other organizations, 
commissions, and committees such as the League for United Latino 
American Citizens, the Arizona Centennial Commission, the Governor's 
Conference on Youth, the Boy Scouts, and the Vesta Club.
   While Chairman of the Board of Chicanos Por La Causa, his efforts to 
fund senior housing for low-income Hispanics resulted in establishing 
Casa de Primavera, a low-income senior housing complex near 43rd Avenue 
and McDowell Road. Later, President Bill Clinton appointed him to the 
Task Force on Aging. In this role, Mr. Diaz visited the White House to 
discuss Social Security, Medicare and other important senior issues 
with Second Lady Tipper Gore.
   Mr. Diaz continued his work for senior citizens at the American 
Legion Post 41, where he organized numerous fundraising events to help 
indigent elderly buy dentures and hearing aids, items not covered by 
Medicare. When Mr. Diaz was in his 70's, he still went daily to the 
YMCA gym and assisted seniors as a trainer in the swimming pool and 
weight room.
   Adam has been a mentor and a friend to many community leaders. I 
have been fortunate to have him as a supporter, advisor and a friend. 
Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Adam Diaz for his 
extraordinary leadership and lifelong dedication to public service, and 
wish him a happy 100th birthday.

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