[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 39 (Thursday, April 7, 2005)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E584] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] TRIBUTE TO MANUEL HERNANDEZ ______ HON. DEVIN NUNES of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Representative Jim Costa, to pay tribute today to Manuel Hernandez, a long-time community activist in Visalia, California, who died February 25th at the age of 91. Mr. Hernandez was affectionately known as the ``Godfather of North Visalia,'' where he mentored many up and coming leaders in the large Latino community. He was born in 1913 in Torreon, in the Coahuila state of northern Mexico. His family moved to the United States in the 1920s. He worked in the fields earning a living by picking cotton, oranges, peaches and other crops for as little as 15 cents an hour. Later, he worked cleaning up after construction crews. He became a carpenter and took certification courses at College of the Sequoias to become a construction supervisor. In the 1960s, he was involved in the formation of Self-Help Enterprises, helping low-income families build and own homes. As a longtime member of the Self-Help board and during his service with a long list of organizations and citizens advisory committees, including the Tulare County Grand Jury, he was an advocate for Visalia's less fortunate. Hundreds gathered at his funeral in March, and as his hearse drove to the cemetery, children stood on the sidewalk and saluted him. Once again, we urge our colleagues to join us in applauding his many years of selfless dedication to the community he loved. His legacy of hard work, compassion, and cooperation stands as an example for us all. ____________________