[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4277]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING KALEB CANALES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Mr. 
Kaleb Canales who was named the interim head coach for the Portland 
Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, NBA, on March 15, 
2012. Mr. Canales is the youngest active head coach in the NBA and the 
first Mexican-American to hold this position in the league's history.
  Mr. Canales was born on July 7, 1978, in Laredo, Texas, and graduated 
from Alexander High School in 1996. He then went on to earn his 
bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at 
Arlington and his master's degree in Sports Leadership from Virginia 
Commonwealth University. Upon completing his education, Mr. Canales 
moved back to Laredo and coached at Martin High School from 2001 
through 2002 and United High School from 2002 through 2003.
  Mr. Canales moved on to join the men's basketball coaching staff at 
the University of Texas at Arlington. He worked on the UT-Arlington 
staff for a year before moving on to become an unpaid intern for the 
Portland Trail Blazers from 2004 through 2005. Mr. Canales' career with 
the Trail Blazers started in 2005 when he was designated as the team's 
video coordinator, a position he held until 2008. After serving as the 
video coordinator, Mr. Canales was promoted to assistant coach and held 
that title until the 15th of this month when he was named interim head 
coach.
  His story is one of passion and persistence; one that is truly 
admirable that sets an example for our youth today. Mr. Canales has 
demonstrated that with hard work and goals, accomplishments will 
follow. This young Laredoan has made us all very proud and we look 
forward to his work in the NBA.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had the opportunity to recognize 
Mr. Canales' great background and accomplishments. His hard work and 
determination has truly had a positive impact on the Laredo and 
Hispanic community.

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