May 11, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 997

social interests and community projects. the

Avon Club also established itself as a service

organization willing to raise money to support

civic improvements and other charitable community organizations.

Each year the Avon Club hosts two major

fundraisers to support its many community

service activities. An annual fall festival is

sponsored in early October and this event features a celebration of the creative, musical,

and culinary talents of local district residents.

The annual fashion show and luncheon provides an opportunity to enjoy food and good

conversation while viewing the latest from the

fashion world. In addition to these fundraisers,

the Avon Club has published a community

telephone directory since 1952. Members canvass their local neighborhoods and all residents, local businesses, and merchants are invited to be listed in this valuable community

resource.

Avon Club member dedicated the proceeds

from these fundraising activities to the support

of several charitable activities. Since 1990,

these charitable activities have been managed

by the Avon Club Foundation, a nonprofit organization which manages both fundraising

activities and the distribution of funds. In 1994,

the Avon Club Foundation gave away $7,671

and brought the total level of philanthropic

contributions throughout their 50 years to over

$100,000.

The Avon Club Foundation is guided by

long-range goals emphasizing service to education, recreation, the environment and social

responsibility. The foundation has donated

funds to local parks, schools, sports organizations and also provides assistance to charitable organizations serving women and children. Members of the Avon Club have also

volunteered with local recycling efforts and

community cleanup days.

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting for the Members of

the U.S. House of Representatives to join in

saluting an organization like the Avon Club.

The Members of the Avon Club are to be

commended for their energy and neighborhoods together to the benefit of all local residents.

TRIBUTE TO CAPT. MIKE TRACY

AND SGT. TOM VANDERPOOL

f

HON. JANE HARMAN OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 10, 1995

Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, on Monday,

May 15, the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal

Order of Police will honor over 100 police officers from across the Nation who were slain in

the line of duty. Among those officers are two

courageous men from the 36th Congressional

District of California who gave their lives to

protect others. It is with deep sadness that I

join in paying tribute to these individuals, Capt.

Mike Tracy and Sgt. Tom Vanderpool.

Mike Tracy and Tom Vanderpool were both

gunned down by a robber on February 14,

1994, while they attended a management

seminar for employees of the city of Palos

Verdes Estates, CA. Both men were model

police officers who leave behind family,

friends, colleagues, and a community made all

the better by their service.

Mike, who was raised in Torrance, CA, first

joined the PVE Police Department as a reserve officer in 1966. His colleagues described

him as a ‘‘cop’s cop’’: instinctive, professional,

and supportive of his fellow officers. Those

close to him say he liked to ‘‘live life to the

fullest,’’ and many were touched by his humor

and humanity. In his spare time, Mike counseled teenagers in trouble. He was also a husband, and father of two.

Tom spent his early years in law enforcement with the Los Angeles Police Department

before beginning 13 years of service with the

PVE Police Department. He was respected by

his colleagues and occupied a special place in

the hearts of needy children in the community.

Every Christmas, he would use his patrol car

to deliver toys, blankets, and clothing to these

children and their families. A husband and father of three, Tom was preparing to celebrate

his 36th wedding anniversary shortly before he

was killed.

My heart fills with sadness when I think of

the tragic circumstances surrounding the

deaths of these two officers. The job of our

law enforcement officers has changed dramatically from earlier times in our Nation’s history. Not only must these officers protect our

citizens against dangers unimaginable, but

they must increasingly protect themselves

from mindless expressions of rage and frustration. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to

those men and women who do the job of law

enforcement every day.

A luncheon to award the South Bay Medal

of Valor was recently held in my district to

honor those who have performed heroic acts

in the line of duty. Capt. Mike Tracy and Sgt.

Tom Vanderpool were both awarded the

medal posthumously. I only wish the legislative schedule had permitted me to be there, as

I was when hundreds of Californians including

my Governor attended their funeral.

To their families and friends, and to the families and friends of all officers slain in the line

of duty, your loved ones were patriots. They

gave their lives for ours.

IN HONOR OF GILBERT HERRERA,

OUTSTANDING YOUNG TEXAS-EX

f

HON. RALPH M. HALL OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 10, 1995

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my

privilege to rise today to pay tribute to Gilbert

A. Herrera, a recipient of the 1995 Outstanding Young Texas-Ex Award. Gilbert was a

page in the Texas Senate during the time that

I was a Texas State Senator, and we have

been great friends ever since. Gilbert’s intelligence, enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence have served him well, culminating

with this prestigious honor.

The Outstanding Young Texas-Ex Award

has been presented annually since 1980 by

the Ex-Students’ Association to four alumni

under the age of 41 who have excelled in their

chosen fields of endeavor and have shown

loyalty to the University of Texas. The 1995

award will be presented during UT’s spring

commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May

20.

Gilbert graduated from UT in 1978 with a

B.B.A. degree in finance. He is a principal of

G.A. Herrera & Co., a private investment

banking firm with offices in Houston and Austin, and he is also a consultant on corporate

governance. Gilbert previously served in a variety of corporate finance and banking positions. In 1993 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas to the Commission for

Lawyer Discipline, where he serves as chair of

its budget committee.

Gilbert also has been active in community

service. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Texas Product Development Commission. In Houston he served on the Houston

Parks Board and as trustee of the Harris

County Mental Health and Mental Retardation

Authority, where he chaired the Legislative

and Employee Benefits Committees. Gilbert is

a life member of the Ex-Students’ Association,

a lifetime member of the Century Club, a

member of the Littlefield Society, the UT

Chancellor’s Council, the MBA Investment

Fund, L.L.C., and the Longhorn Associates for

Women’s Athletics.

Gilbert and his wife, Kari, have been personal friends of mine for many years. Today I

join their family and many friends in offering

my sincere congratulations to this outstanding

young Texas Ex on his selection for this prestigious award. His achievements are a source

of pride for his family, his friends, and the University of Texas, and I know that he will continue to distinguish himself in his profession as

well as in his service to his community, his

State, and his country.

IN RECOGNITION OF THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY

fFOUNDATION

HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 10, 1995

Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

congratulate and recognize the Mexican-American Opportunity Foundation [MAOF] as they

inaugurate their new facilities on Thursday,

May 11, 1995.

MAOF was founded in 1962 by Mr. Dionicio

Morales in Los Angeles, CA, and for over 33

years it has provided educational and charitable assistance to the general public and the

Latino community. MAOF has developed and

administered projects, programs, research and

related activities on behalf of the socially and

economically disadvantaged youth and adults

of our community.

One of the special projects began when Mr.

Morales and MAOF recognized the plight of

Latina women. Eighteen years ago, MAOF

created ‘‘Visiones Hispanas’’, a Hispanic women’s conference that focuses on Hispanic

women’s needs and provides direction on career and education opportunities.

In furthering their mission to assist economically disadvantaged individuals, MAOF has established child care development programs.

MAOF founded these centers to provide a bilingual/bicultural learning environment for children. It is a developmental program where

children, whether they speak only English or

only Spanish, become an integral component

of this educational interaction with the teachers. Additionally, MAOF sponsors child nutrition programs, in conjunction with their child