[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14497]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 90TH BIRTHDAY OF MARY LYDIA MATTA GARZA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF FLAKE

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2012

  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and celebrate the 
90th birthday of Mrs. Mary Lydia Matta Garza, of Mesa, Arizona.
  Known to her friends and family as Mary Lou, Mrs. Matta Garza is 
perhaps best known in the Mesa community as the proud owner and 
operator of the former Matta's Restaurant. Now a Mesa landmark, Matta's 
was opened in 1953 by Mrs. Matta Garza and her husband, Manuel. Mary 
Lou and Manuel opened Matta's with only $1,000, and grossed a mere $25 
a day in those first few weeks and months of getting their small 
business off the ground.
  Matta's opened as a small storefront, but its family-oriented 
traditions and atmosphere, and of course, its great dishes based on 
Matta family recipes passed down for generations, drew larger and 
larger crowds. The Matta's following grew so much that in 1969, Mary 
Lou and Maneul were able to expand Matta's home, adding enough seating 
for 350 people.
  Mrs. Matta Garza and her family decided to close Matta's in 2008 
after 55 years of serving quality Latin fare. But despite its closed 
doors, its traditions, and of course, its great food, now live on at 
Matta's Mexican Grill in East Mesa and Matta's Grill and Cantina in 
Northwest Mesa, which are owned and operated by Mrs. Matta Garza's 
grandchildren.
  While Matta's was becoming a successful business and Mesa landmark, 
Mrs. Matta Garza--in between helping to run the restaurant and raise 
six children--made many important contributions to the Mesa community 
and the state of Arizona. She launched the Mesa-Phoenix and Flagstaff 
councils of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, and 
served as LULAC's regional governor. She volunteered her time at the 
Southside Hospital of Mesa and Desert Samaritan Hospital and served as 
a board member and treasurer of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. For her 
many efforts to give back, Mrs. Matta Garza was named Mesa Woman of the 
Year in 1973.
  In her 90 years, Mary Lou Matta Garza raised her six children, saw 
the birth of 21 grand children, 23 great grandchildren, and even one 
great-great grandchild. She ran a profitable business that became a 
pillar of Mesa. And she gave much of her time, effort, and love to her 
community. Mrs. Matta Garza is fond of saying that giving back in this 
way will ``reward you tenfold.'' As a Mesa resident, I feel rewarded to 
have had her as an integral part of our community. Thank you, Mrs. 
Matta Garza, for all you have done and continue to do for our town and 
our home.

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