[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13248-13249]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF PETE MIRELEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2013

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Mr. Pete Mirelez, 
who served as a role model and mentor to his community. He was proud to 
be the first Hispanic Adams County Commissioner and stated that after 
his family and friends his second love was Adams County.
  Pete Mirelez was born in LaSalle, Colorado and was the first person 
in his family to receive a college degree, completing his studies at 
Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. Pete served as Adams 
County's first Director of the War on Poverty Program and was named 
Regional Director of the California Migrant Council in 1968. In 1972, 
Pete was named the National Director of the office of Economic 
Opportunity Migrant Division in Washington D.C., before becoming an 
Adams County Commissioner. During Pete's time as Adams County 
Commissioner, an edition of the Brighton Sentinel named him as ``one of 
the most influential people in Adams County''.
  After serving Adams County, Pete was appointed by President Jimmy 
Carter as Representative to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Region 8, and

[[Page 13249]]

served from 1979 to 1981. Afterwards, Pete served the Colorado 
Department of Transportation Highway Commission for twelve years until 
becoming a lobbyist for Adams County School Districts.
  Pete was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and mentor of mine 
who I was proud to also call a friend. He exemplified the American 
dream by showing that through education and service a person could 
create positive change in his community. His true public service will 
be missed.

                          ____________________