[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MARLA AND TOM LETIZIA

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Marla and Tom Letizia 
on their being named ``Menschen'' of the Year by Congregation Ner 
Tamid. The award is intended to reflect the ultimate values of their 
congregation, which is to give selflessly of oneself to benefit the 
community. Marla and Tom have helped make Las Vegas and Nevada a better 
place with their business and community involvement.
  Mr. Letizia started out as an account executive for many Las Vegas 
television stations including KLAS TV-8. He founded Letizia Ad Team in 
1974. The firm specializes in television, radio, newspaper, direct 
mail, internet and outdoor advertising. Mr. and Mrs. Letizia owned 
radio and television outlets in Reno, Las Vegas, Laughlin and Tonapah, 
NV. They cofounded Tonopah's first radio station, KPAH-FM, which was 
sold in 1992, and the first radio station dual signal property in 
Laughlin/Las Vegas, KROL-AM, which was later sold in 1993. The Letizias 
were part owners of the first independent television station in Reno, 
KAME-TV, which later became a FOX affiliate before being sold in 1994.
  In 2001, Mrs. Letizia founded Big Traffic Mobile Billboards 
Worldwide, which implements trucks that provide four-sided advertising 
space and environmentally friendly WOBI' walking billboards. 
She has over 35 years of marketing and journalism experience, beginning 
her career with KLAS-TV 8 as an assistant production manager and 
organizer and was subsequently promoted to director of the live 
television news broadcasts at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. She gained distinction 
as the first female director in the history of Las Vegas, as well as 
the first female hired in production in Las Vegas, running the audio 
department during production and during live news broadcasts.
  The Letizias help their community by acting as founding members of 
the Board of Trustees for the Meadows School. They are also on the 
advisory board of the Make-A-Wish foundation of southern Nevada. Marla 
and Tom also compassionately care about our planet Earth. One of their 
innovations was a green friendly walking billboard.
  With their innovative business approach and compassionate approach to 
their fellow Nevadans, Marla and Tom represent this country at its 
best. They have achieved great things and I know their future, both as 
a family and a business remains, as bright as the neon lights from the 
Las Vegas Strip. I congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Letizia on their 
tremendous accomplishment.

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