[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11573-11574]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JOSE TAMAYO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2010

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jose Tamayo, who 
passed away on June 10, 2010, in Santa Rosa, California. His legacy as 
a philanthropist and entrepreneur has enriched Sonoma County and the 
entire San Francisco Bay Area.
  As a young immigrant from Mexico, Mr. Tamayo moved to this country 
with a bright vision for his family's future. He quickly recognized 
Sonoma County as uniquely endowed with a rich agricultural, culinary, 
and environmental tradition that lent itself well to the production of 
wholesome, handcrafted foods. After settling in Santa Rosa, Mr. Tamayo 
and his wife Mary opened their first ``Mexicantessen,'' bringing a 
taste of their heritage to Sonoma County customers.
  The Tamayos built on their success, founding La Tortilla Factory in 
1977 and branching out into new products and new ventures. From a tiny 
family business run entirely on Jose and Mary Tamayo's hard work and 
dedication, La Tortilla Factory grew into a nationally recognized 
leader with hundreds of local employees. It also continues to be an 
industry innovator. Over the several decades that La Tortilla Factory 
has been in operation, it has consistently been at the forefront of 
new, health-conscious, high-quality wraps, breads, and tortillas.
  In spite of the demands of a growing business, Jose and Mary Tamayo 
remained committed to their family and community. They worked 
tirelessly to give their children the education and grounding they 
would need to succeed in their own right, and to create a family 
centered on the principles of hard work and service. In 1986, Jose and 
Mary Tamayo passed La Tortilla Factory on to their sons and rededicated 
themselves to contributing to the people of Sonoma County.
  The Tamayos were particularly active in a number of community 
organizations, from food banks to local schools and youth-support 
organizations. The Mary and Jose Tamayo House, a residence for former 
foster children at Sonoma County's Social Advocates for Youth, is just 
one example of their efforts to provide all children the same 
opportunities they provided their own. This is a legacy of compassion 
and civic-mindedness that will live on in our region.
  Jose Tamayo was predeceased by his wife Mary and his son Bernie 
Tamayo. He is survived by his sons Carlos, Jose, Mike, and

[[Page 11574]]

Willie Tamayo, and by his eleven grandchildren and six great-
grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you to join in me in celebrating the life of a 
man who gave back more than he received, who measured his success in 
his service to others. Jose Tamayo's story reminds us of how much we 
can all achieve when we pursue our goals with passion and integrity.

                          ____________________