[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10625]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               OMAR RODAS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, millions of American teenagers walked 
across the stage in their cap and gown and received their diploma after 
four years of hard work. Their high school careers will officially come 
to an end and the next chapter will soon take off. High School 
Graduation is an exciting time meant for celebration with friends and 
family. But one Texas student did not get to cross the stage in his 
green cap and gown to receive his high school diploma.
  Omar Rodas from Houston, Texas was an 18 year old student at Klein 
Forest High School.
  He was a tenacious student. Constantly, he put in the extra effort to 
make his dream of graduation a reality. He stayed for after school 
hours and worked overtime to ensure that he would graduate. He spent 
his extra time bussing tables at a local restaurant, Babins.
  At first he did not think that he would be able to graduate, but Omar 
pulled it off. He worked tirelessly for that cap and gown and to make 
sure he was part of the big day in June. His friends said that he was 
so excited that the hours of extra time and effort made his dream of 
graduating a reality.
  Omar was on his way to his graduation ceremony early Saturday morning 
on June 6, 2015 with his good friend, who agreed to drive him that 
morning to ensure that he would make it to the ceremony on time. On the 
Houston highway, he was suddenly killed in a violent car accident 
involving two other cars. Omar was already wearing his cap and gown 
when rescue crews pulled him out of the wreck.
  Initial reports have suggested that Omar was driving on the freeway 
around 7 a.m. when he veered out of his lane and hit the back of a dump 
truck and SUV then veered in front of the truck and was struck.
  Omar was pronounced dead at the scene.
  Friends and family at the graduation ceremony were surprised and 
confused when Omar's name was called and he did not cross the stage.
  No one knew that a terrible highway accident took the life of the 
bright student.
  A candle vigil was held for Omar on June 7th at Klein Forest High 
School and student, parents, and friends are helping the family by 
setting up a GoFund account in order to help them raise money for the 
funeral so that the family may grieve properly without the worry of 
money. Many who attended the vigil wore red, Omar's favorite color, and 
many of the Class of 2015 students wore their graduation caps in honor 
of him.
  Omar is survived by his parents, an older sister who previously 
graduated from Klein Forest High School and a younger brother. He had 
plans to continue working and hopefully attend Lone Star College after 
graduation.
  Even though Omar did not get to hear his name called and physically 
walk the stage to take his diploma, the community has not stopped 
cheering for him.
  Omar's memory will live on through his family, friends and classmates 
in Houston. He will always be a great example of how no matter the 
circumstances, hard work will always pay off.
  Our prayers are with the Rodas family and all of Omar's friends.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________