[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15266-15267]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HERCULEZ GOMEZ

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, today I come to the Senate floor to 
congratulate Herculez Gomez, a dedicated and disciplined soccer player 
from Las Vegas, who was one of 23 men to represent the country during 
the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa as part of the U.S. Men's 
National Team. Herculez, who currently plays in Mexico's Professional 
First Division for Pachuca F.C., made the final cut after being 
selected from the 30-man provisional World Cup U.S. roster.
  As the oldest of five children, Herculez was born in Los Angeles to 
Mexican-American parents and later moved to Las Vegas where he was 
raised. While attending Las Vegas High School, he joined the high 
school's soccer league, where he cultivated a passion that would launch 
his career in the MLS league, and later earn him an unexpected, but 
well-deserved slot to represent his home State of Nevada

[[Page 15267]]

and the United States in the 2010 World Cup this past June.
  Throughout the years Herculez has developed a very successful soccer 
career, playing for several teams both in the United States and Mexico. 
Despite having suffered several physical injuries, such as broken foots 
and torn ligaments, through perseverance and patience Herculez has made 
a name for himself as dedicated player and rising star. While playing 
with the Puebla F.C. in Mexico, he became the first American player to 
score the most number of goals for a foreign league, netting 10 goals 
in the 2010 Mexican season.
  During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Herculez played in three of the four 
U.S. men's team World Cup games, and started in one of them. Although 
the team's quest for our first World Cup ended in the round of 16, 
Herculez represented Nevada and his country brilliantly and I look 
forward to seeing bigger and better performances from this Las Vegan 
star.

                          ____________________