[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 17329-17330] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]CONGRATULATING RONNIE LOPEZ FOR HIS INDUCTION INTO VALLE DEL SOL'S HALL OF FAME ______ HON. ED PASTOR of arizona in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 6, 2006 Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to proudly pay tribute to an Arizonan who has exemplified the meanings of leadership, commitment to community, social justice and integrity. He is a highly- regarded leader not only in Arizona, but nationally, and someone whom I am proud to call my friend--Mr. Ronnie Lopez. [[Page 17330]] For more than 30 years, Ronnie Lopez has been a leader in various community and political endeavors that have improved the quality of life for Arizona's residents. For his work, he will be entered into the Valle Del Sol Hall of Fame during the 16th Annual Profiles of Success Hispanic Leadership Awards Celebration on September 8, 2006, in Phoenix, Arizona. Born in Miami, Arizona, Ronnie and his two brothers were raised by a single parent, Mrs. Vera Lopez, after the death of his father. Ronnie married his high school sweetheart, Angie, and together they headed to Phoenix in the late 1960s to pursue higher education and new opportunities. They have two outstanding sons, Paul and Marcos, and Paul and his wife Elizabeth are expecting a daughter in December, another point of pride for Ronnie as a first-time grandfather. Ronnie served in the administration of Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt for ten years, ultimately serving as his Chief of Staff. Ronnie had the honor of twice administering the oath of office to Babbitt: when then Attorney General Bruce Babbitt succeeded to the governorship in 1979 and again in 1993 when Babbitt became the Secretary of Interior. He has served and continues to serve on numerous boards and commissions, including Bank of America, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Friends of Sky Harbor Advisory Board, and the Governor's Commission on the September 11th Memorial. Most recently, Ronnie served as the co-chair of the 2006 City of Phoenix Bond Committee the work of which voters approved in March 2006. Ronnie also is the former presiding Justice of the Peace of the West Phoenix Precinct in Maricopa County. Ronnie also led the establishment of community based organizations like Valle del Sol, Inc., and Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., two of the Valley's leading non-profit Hispanic advocacy organizations. He also has served on numerous political campaigns and sits on the National Democratic Business Council. Among his many accolades, in the year 2000, he was listed as one of the ``Most Influential Hispanics'' by Hispanic Business Magazine. Mr. Speaker, as you can surmise, Ronnie Lopez, a Miami Vandal, has exhibited a tireless and visionary commitment to making Arizona a better place to live for all people. He is an exemplary leader and a profoundly committed individual who is a true role model for the nation. Therefore, I am pleased to pay tribute to my friend Ronnie Lopez, and I know my colleagues will join me in thanking him and wishing him great success. ____________________