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[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S5945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  T. OSCAR TREVINO, JR., 1995 TEXAS SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I want to recognize the leadership of 
a small business person in my State who is being honored today by the 
Small Business Administration as the Small Business Person of the Year 
in Texas.
  Mr. Oscar Trevino, Jr. is president of J.L. Steel, Inc. He is what 
America is all about, Mr. President. He took a company, J.L. Steel, 
from $400,000 in revenues in the first year, in 1989, and built that 
company to over $13 million in revenues last year. It is the fifth 
fastest growing Hispanic-owned company in the United States.
  I am really proud of this Texan. He has really added to the economic 
vitality of our community in that he now has 140 employees that are 
working and paying taxes and are good citizens of our State. I am very 
pleased to honor him today.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that his biography be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                   Biography of T. Oscar Trevino, Jr.

       It was 1989, and Oscar Trevino was comfortable with his 
     company care and steady paycheck. He and neighbor Jan La 
     Point were chatting on the lawn after dinner, while the kids 
     played out front. It seems that Jan was having trouble 
     expanding her two-year-old company, and Oscar was interested.
       Before he realized it, he had worked out a business plan on 
     his computer, and they were in business as J.L. Steel. Oscar 
     borrowed against his retirement account, his credit cards and 
     from family to become 51 percent owner of the firm. From 
     $400,000 in revenues that first year, J.L. Steel has grown to 
     nearly $13.6 million in revenues last year, making it the 
     fifth fastest-growing Hispanic-owned company in the United 
     States, with an annual growth rate of 235 percent.
       J.L. Steel installs reinforced steel in highways, bridges 
     and buildings. The firm competes for government and private 
     contracts in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, and satisfies its 
     customers with reliable estimates, quality workmanship and 
     attention to detail in the reams of accompanying paperwork. 
     The firm has called on the SBA twice: in 1992 for a loan 
     guarantee to finance growth and again in 1993, when it was 
     certified as an 8(a) contractor, allowing it to compete for 
     jobs from the federal government.
       Oscar himself started out as a laborer, working summers for 
     a major general-contracting firm while he earned a civil 
     engineering degree from Texas A&M. He stayed with the firm 
     after he graduated in 1978, advancing to become project 
     manager by 1989. He hasn't forgotten how difficult it can be 
     for others, and J.L. Steel has an aggressive equal-
     opportunity policy.
       Oscar supports fledgling companies by helping them with 
     marketing, construction practices and subcontracting 
     opportunities. His tireless advocacy work on behalf of 
     minority- and women-owned businesses includes work on various 
     boards and committees, including the Dallas Minority Business 
     Enterprise Advisory Committee and the Disadvantaged Business 
     Enterprise Support Services program of the Texas Engineering 
     Extension Service. He also helped the Association of General 
     Contractors of Texas develop and promote fair and equitable 
     goals, and training and apprenticeship programs for 
     minorities and women.

  (The remarks of Mrs. Hutchison pertaining to the introduction of S. 
743 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I yield the floor and I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________
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