[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2584-2585]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING GUSTAVO SAMBRANO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BETO O'ROURKE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2015

  Mr. O'ROURKE. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to recognize 
Mr. Gustavo Sambrano, a native El Pasoan with a commendable record of 
service to his community and our nation.
  Mr. Sambrano was born on March 26, 1932. He attended Bowie High 
School, a local institution with a rich and distinguished history of 
overcoming adversity and a consistent dedication to service. Mr. 
Sambrano was a proud member of the 1949 Texas state championship 
baseball team. This team primarily consisted of economically 
disadvantaged, Mexican-American students from El Paso's historic 
Segundo Barrio neighborhood. While traveling to Austin to play in the 
state championship, the team faced rampant racial discrimination. Upon 
arrival and against all odds, the Bears

[[Page 2585]]

beat the most favored team in the state, the Austin Maroons. Mr. 
Sambrano would continue to remain engaged with his teammates and 
participate in community initiatives throughout his lifetime. In 2006, 
the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame recognized the accomplishments of the 
team. Additionally, Sports Illustrated wrote a 2011 feature on the team 
further amplifying recognition of their profound accomplishment.
  Following graduation from high school in 1950, Mr. Sambrano enlisted 
in the United States Air Force. Mr. Sambrano served honorably in 
numerous locations throughout the world to include England, Greenland, 
Italy, Korea, Spain and Thailand.
  Following retirement after 20 years of faithful service from the U.S. 
Air Force, Mr. Sambrano attained a B.A. from The University of Texas at 
El Paso. Mr. Sambrano continued to serve his local community as an 
educator with the El Paso Independent School District and his nation 
through federal civilian service in numerous capacities, with his 
career eventually culminating in retirement from the Defense Logistics 
Agency in Alexandria, Virginia. Following the completion of his 
civilian career, Mr. Sambrano once again returned home to El Paso, the 
community he held dearly.
  I thank Mr. Sambrano for being an honorable ambassador of our 
community to the world through his notable service. While his road to 
success was often filled with adversity, Mr. Sambrano represents the 
ambition, dedication, perseverance and resilience that is so indicative 
of the many great El Pasoans I have the distinct privilege to 
represent.

                          ____________________