[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 8678-8679] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO SYLVAN RODRIGUEZ ______ HON. TOM DeLAY of texas in the house of representatives Wednesday, May 5, 1999 Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, hypothetical quandaries always elicit interesting answers. Over two hundred years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote that if he had to choose to have a government without the press or the press without a government, he would without hesitation prefer the latter situation. This position reflects that great founder's understanding of the important role of journalism in the American experiment. Sylvan Rodriguez also understands this role and has dedicated his life to making both journalism and the country better together. Sylvan Rodriguez is a giant in the world of Houston broadcasting. Since 1977, he has graced the city's airwaves with crack reporting on politics and a special focus on space operations. His coverage of the space shuttle program and the exposure from the tragic Challenger explosion opened up many doors for him, including a stint as a Los Angeles correspondent for ABC News. His expertise has been sought by David Brinkley for the This Week program, by Ted Koppel for Nightline, by Peter Jennings for ABC World News Tonight and for Good Morning America. Such a lion of the press did not start at the top however. Rather, Sylvan Rodriguez is an American success story whose love for journalism struck in early age and was nurtured over time. This boyhood love for the industry matured and was honed while attending the University of Texas at Austin where he tirelessly scribed for several newspapers and a wire service. At this time, his appetite for big news was wetted by covering the powers that were in Washington as an intern for the United States Information Agency where he learned the ins-and-outs of the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department and Capitol Hill. This foundation was bolstered by experience as a reporter and photographer covering state and national politics in San Antonio and Houston. But the passion for reporting was not all consuming for Sylvan Rodriguez. Throughout his life, he has understood that a balance must be made between giving and taking. He has given much to the community and to his profession to match all the opportunities he earned for himself. While his list of philanthropic activities is a book long, he has given particular attention to foundations that give opportunities to children and fight cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Tourette Syndrome and Cerebral Palsey. A great example to any budding journalist, he is a founding member of the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals. Journalism has been described as an ability to meet the challenge of filling space. This definition does not only apply to column inches or airtime. It also touches on the space within ourselves where our heart and love of country should rest. Through his dedication to his profession and to others, Sylvan Rodriguez has filled all of these spaces for many years. Today, it is my honor to ask Congress to pay [[Page 8679]] tribute to Sylvan Rodriguez for being such a hero to journalism and to the community. ____________________