[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14761]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING STEVE LaMANTIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments 
of Mr. Steve LaMantia, the award recipient for the 2010 Laredo Business 
Person of the Year. Mr. LaMantia is currently Vice-President and 
general manager of L&F Distributors in Laredo.
  Mr. LaMantia has contributed to the community of south Texas as a 
savvy businessman and plays an active role in many nonprofit 
organizations to benefit students and education. He is recognized as 
the Laredo Business Person of the Year at the Distinguished Business 
Awards Ceremony hosted by the Laredo Chamber of Commerce. Annually, the 
Laredo Chamber of Commerce awards and commemorates an individual that 
upholds characteristics of strong work ethic, integrity, a 
substantiated history as an established business, growth in number of 
employees, and philanthropy. Mr. LaMantia's business and presence of 
community-orientated projects have impacted the development and growth 
of Laredo and south Texas.
  Along with a profitable and successful business of L&F Distributors, 
he serves on several boards and civic organizations, such as Chairman 
of the Board of Laredo Medical Center, former President of the 
Washington's Birthday Celebration, Wholesale Beer Distributors of 
Texas, Mr. South Texas Selection Committee, Border Olympics, and Cola 
Blanca, to name a few. He has volunteered his time at Saint Augustine 
High School, Boys and Girls Club, and coached the Gateway Girls 
Softball organization.
  His contributions to the area have impacted students and the 
education community greatly. In 1991, he formed a partnership with the 
Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which raised over $5 million and awarded 
over 2,600 scholarships to students in south Texas over an eleven-year 
period. In 2003, LaMantia also helped to establish a nonprofit 
organization, South Texas Academic Rising Scholars (STARS), which 
provides scholarships to students to attend the college of their 
choice. STARS has raised over $9 million and have awarded scholarships 
to 4,100 students from south Texas. He has also been an extremely 
active member of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce Cola Blanca Big Buck 
Contest. Mr. LaMantia also dedicates his time with his wife of 27 
years, Linda and his five daughters.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize Mr. 
Steve LaMantia, the 2010 Laredo Business Person of the Year. He has 
truly impacted the business community and dedicated his time for many 
nonprofit organizations in south Texas and Laredo.

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