May 10, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 987

TRIBUTE TO ELFEGO BACA

HON. BILL RICHARDSON OF NEW MEXICO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 10, 1995

Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, many of

us have spoken at great length about the cowards responsible for the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City. With all this

talk about cowards, I thought it might be helpful to remind my colleagues that while our

country is plagued with cowards from time to

time, we have a rich history of heros and famous sons and daughters. One such famous

son is Elfego Baca who to this day—more

than 110 years after his remarkable feat in

New Mexico—is still remembered fondly by

New Mexicans.

An encounter between Elfego Baca and

some Texas cowboys in the fall of 1884 has

to many in the New Mexico Hispanic community resulted in the elevation of Baca to heroic

status.

Elfego Baca was born the youngest child to

a family of Spanish ancestry in 1865. During

his youth, he held a job as a clerk in a merchant’s store in Socorro County, NM. Several

years later in 1883, Baca experienced his first

introduction to the legal side of law enforcement.

Socorro County was undergoing rapid economic growth with the development of the

Santa Fe Railroad. This expansion brought

new faces to the area—laborers, miners, and

ranchers to name a few. Many of the Texan

newcomers held the local native community in

low esteem. These cattlemen would often ride

inebriated through town while shooting their

guns. Obviously this posed a dangerous problem to the safety of the community so Sheriff

Simpson called on Baca to help chase the

cowboys out of town. Consequently, Elfego

was appointed deputy sheriff for Socorro

County.

It is still a mystery why Baca travelled to

San Francisco Plaza in October 1884, but his

confrontation with some Texas cowboys is

what made him a legend. Shortly after arriving, deputy Baca encountered Charles McCarthy who was firing his pistol in a local saloon.

Baca quickly took control and brought McCarthy to the justice of peace. McCarthy paid a

fine and was released, but again repeated his

lawless actions and was again arrested by

Baca. McCarthy had fired his gun directly at

Baca, so the deputy decided to guard the

drunk prisoner in a private house in town. This

enraged the other Texas cowboys and created

an enormously tense scenario between them

and deputy Baca. That night, a mob of stockmen threatened Baca for the release of

McCarthy, but the deputy declined and held

off their advances. It finally came to a head

when Baca fired shots to disperse the mob

and shot a horse which one of the cowboy’s

was riding, pinning the rider and crushing him

to death.

The cattlemen used the following day to

muster up their forces in retaliation of their

comrade’s death. Baca meanwhile hid in a

small shack just outside town. When the cowboys finally tried to storm the house, Baca

fired at the intruders, hitting one man in the

chest and killing him. The infuriated gang of

Texas cowboys that had congregated outside

returned fire at the house but were unable to

dislodge Baca from his fortification.

Finally after nearly a day of hiding out, the

justice of peace issued an arrest warrant for

Deputy Sheriff Baca. Baca surrendered under

the condition that his life be spared from the

cowboy mob and that he receive a fair trial in

Bernalillo County with an Hispanic jury. Baca

was acquitted under the grounds of self-defense.

The story of Elfego Baca demonstrates a

man’s will to preserve justice in a land and

time of rampant corruption and bullying.

Baca’s bravery instilled hope to the native

New Mexican people who upheld the laws of

the land and refused to succumb to racial injustices.

I urge my colleagues to join me in paying

special tribute to Elfego Baca and the countless numbers of other American heros and famous sons and daughters who have helped

make this country great.

TRIBUTE TO THE BERNIE V.

GUTHRIE SQUADRON

fHON. TIM JOHNSON OF SOUTH DAKOTA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 10, 1995

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bernie V. Guthrie

Squadron, a charter member of the Arnold Air

Society, located on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. The

Guthrie Squadron was established in 1951,

and named in honor of Capt. Bernie V. Guthrie, an Air Force pilot who was shot down over

Hamm, Germany during World War II.

Since its establishment, the Bernie V. Guthrie Squadron has had an outstanding record of

accomplishment and community service. The

squadron instituted an annual veterans vigil,

which began as a local project in the late

1980’s and was expanded into a permanent

nationwide project in 1991. In addition, the

Guthrie Squadron sold POW/MIA bracelets at

South Dakota State University to increase student awareness of POW/MIA issues, and instituted a POW/MIA name tracing project which

included all area squadrons.

The Guthrie Squadron has also served the

community and the State by organizing blood

drives, participating in the Big Brother/Big Sister Program, and working with handicapped

children and adults. It has received numerous

honors, including the Outstanding Squadron of

1992, the Outstanding State Service Award,

and the Jaycees Community Service Award.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the achievements of the Bernie V.

Guthrie Squadron, and to encourage the

squadron to continue its long and proud tradition of service in South Dakota.

HONORING THE CROATIAN

FRATERNAL UNION

f

HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 10, 1995

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to congratulate the Croatian Sons

Lodge No. 170 of the Croatian Fraternal Union

on the festive occasion of its 87th anniversary

and 50-year-member banquet.

This year, the Croatian Fraternal Union will

hold this gala event at the beautifully renovated Croatian Center in Merrillville, IN. Traditionally, the anniversary ceremony includes a

recognition of those members who have

achieved 50 years of membership. Honorees

who have pledged their allegiance include:

Vincent Brebrich, Bessie Briski, Marko

Buncich, Edward Carija, John William Carr,

Vera Depa, Julia Farrenkopf, Rose Marie

Franz, Helen Griffin, Peter Hecimovich, Mildred Kennedy, Helen Lucas, John Meznarick,

Lubi Paligraf, Steve Paulich, Violet Plummer,

Delores Roppolo, John Simunic, Frank

Sostaric, Ann Stankovic, Marie Vucich, Anna

Wilson, and Peter Yukich.

These loyal and dedicated individuals share

this prestigious honor with a total of 256 additional lodge members who have attained this

status.

This memorable day begins with Mass at St.

Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Gary,

IN, officiated by the Reverend Father Benedict

Benakovich. Croatian Fraternal Union national

president, Bernard Luketich, will be this year’s

distinguished guest speaker. Festivities will be

enriched by the music of the Croatian Glee

Club, ‘‘Preradovic,’’ directed by Brother Dennis

Barunica and by the Hoosier Hrvati Adult

Tamburitza Orchestra, directed by Ed Sindicih.

In addition, the Croatian Junior Tamburitzans

will perform under the direction of Dennis

Barunica.

I am proud to commend lodge president,

Elizabeth Morgavan, as well as every member

of the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge No.

170, for their loyalty and radiant display of

passion for their ethnicity. It is my hope that

this year will bring renewed hope and prosperity for all members of the Croatian community

and their families.

CONGRATULATIONS ADAMSVILLE

HIGH SCHOOL

f

HON. ED BRYANT OF TENNESSEE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 10, 1995

Mr. BRYANT of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I

rise today to congratulate the Adamsville High

School Cardinals for the outstanding 1994–95

basketball season they enjoyed.

It gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to

one of the outstanding high schools in the

State of Tennessee, and at this time, to specially recognize their runner-up status in the

Tennessee State Basketball Tournament in

Mufreesboro, TN.

Head Coach Greg Martin, in his first year in

that capacity, directed the team, with the able

assistance of Assistant Coach Rick Coffman.

Coach Martin won the District 15A Coach of

the Year Award for his outstanding effort.

At a time when some question the commitment and work ethic of our youth, those 15

young men dispelled that myth with their team

efforts. Led by All-State Tournament Team

member Matt Hoover, the Cardinals also included Michael Cleary, Tony Engle, Jon Luna,

Casey Meek, B.J. Sherron, Chad Wyatt, Tracy