TOMMY NUNEZ — HON. ED PASTOR

(Extension of Remarks – September 29, 1994)

HON. ED PASTOR

in the House of Representatives

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1994

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate
Mr. Tommy Nunez, who was recently honored at the Hispanic Heritage Awards
Dinner for excellence in sports.

An Arizona native, Mr. Nunez grew up in the Dupa
Villa projects of East Central Phoenix. He joined the Marines and worked
as a phone company switchboard repairman before he began his career as
a referee for the National Basketball Association in 1973. As 1 of only
28 men who are officials with the National Basketball Association, he
is the only Mexican-American to referee in the ranks of professional basketball.
Mr. Nunez’ accomplishments alone serve as an inspiration
to minority and underprivileged youth. Besides serving as a role model,
he is dedicated to improving the lives of others around him. When he is
not working for the NBA, Mr. Nunez works for the Arizona Department of
Economic Security Job Training Administration as a summer youth employment
monitor and coordinates the Tommy Nunez Hispanic Basketball Classic. In
addition, Mr. Nunez travels to local schools speaking on the importance
of education and teaching students how to cope with peer pressure. He
serves on the Governor’s Council on Fitness, the Phoenix Youth Commission,
and the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for Substance Abuse and Community Education.

Mr. Speaker, Tommy Nunez is an exceptional person
whom I am honored to know and proud to recognize. His high sense of integrity
and outstanding leadership have made a profound impact on the young people
of Arizona. His many achievements and his active participation in the
community make him a role model that we can all admire and learn from.
Again, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Nunez
and especially to thank him for all he is doing to make a positive influence
in the lives of the people of Arizona and throughout the Nation.