E684 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 17, 2009 TRIBUTE TO KENT OLSON, EXECU- Not only will this initiative increase Internet Madam Speaker, I encourage my col- TIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PROFES- speed and accessibility for customers, but per- leagues to join me in wishing my brothers of SIONAL INSURANCE AGENTS OF haps more importantly it will create 3,000 new Omega Psi Phi Fraternity a successful political NORTH DAKOTA jobs. summit as these men continue to build a Over the next ten years, AT&T also plans to strong and effective force of men dedicated to HON. EARL POMEROY create or save an additional one thousand its Cardinal Principles of manhood, scholar- jobs through a plan to invest $565 million in OF NORTH DAKOTA ship, perseverance, and uplift. replacing its current fleet of vehicles with IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f 15,000 domestically manufactured Com- Tuesday, March 17, 2009 pressed Natural Gas and alternative fuel vehi- REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF Mr. POMEROY. Madam Speaker, I rise to cles. MUSIC IMPRESARIO RALPH honor the distinguished career of Kent Olson. Research shows that this new fleet will save MERCADO I am pleased to have known Kent Olson for 49 million gallons of gasoline over the next ten the many years he served as the Executive years. It also will reduce carbon emissions by HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL Director of the Professional Insurance Agents 211,000 metric tons in this same time frame. OF NEW YORK of North Dakota working with him on important Madam Speaker, I applaud AT&T for its ini- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tiative in taking the lead in the movement to insurance issues for North Dakota farmers. Tuesday, March 17, 2009 Kent Olson is a model of the highest stand- green our economy. Not only will these new ards of honesty, integrity and professionalism. initiatives help lead our nation out of its cur- Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to ask As Mr. Olson prepares to begin retirement, I rent economic downturn, but they also help to my colleagues to pause and remember the life want to pay tribute to his leadership of the create an environmentally sustainable future of a good friend, Ralph Mercado, the leg- professional insurance agents in North Dakota for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. endary Latin music executive who recently focusing on the importance of quality con- These actions set AT&T apart as an exem- passed away on March 10, 2009. As much an tinuing education for its members that trans- plary company, and I hope that others will icon as the musicians that he worked with and lated into excellent service for families and soon follow their lead. promoted, Mercado was a visionary innovator farmers in North Dakota. Throughout the f who helped popularize tropical music world- years, quality education for professional insur- wide, including New York’s mixture of popular TRIBUTE TO THE OMEGA PSI PHI Latin rhythms know as ‘‘salsa.’’ ance agents has been known by one name: FRATERNITY Kent Olson. Mercado etched his name in the history Among his many achievements, Kent Olson HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK books by building a record label whose var- is an expert in crop insurance and has been ious components (from a publishing company OF FLORIDA passionate in support of the key role that crop to a video and film production arm) helped IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES insurance plays in the farming economy of our make and take salsa to some of the largest state and of our entire nation. Tuesday, March 17, 2009 stages around the world. A catalog of award- In addition to his work in our state, Kent has Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, winning international hits across three dec- contributed his many talents to the national today I rise to recognize my fraternity, Omega ades transformed the Latino music industry, PIA agents association, putting on seminars Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, the first Afri- bringing respect not only to talented artists but and getting personally involved every year. His can-American national fraternal organization to also providing young Latinos with a way to involvement typifies his belief in our democ- be founded at a historically black college, for connect with their parents, their roots and their racy and embodies the motto of PIA as being, their 7th Annual Florida Political Summit in communities. ‘‘Local Agents Serving Main Street America.’’ Tallahassee, Florida. It all started in Brooklyn on Sept. 29, 1941. Kent believes passionately in the value that For nearly 100 years, my fraternal brothers The son of a Dominican dockworker and a local professional insurance agents always have faithfully carried out their mission of fos- Puerto Rican factory worker, Mercado often provide. And with equal passion, he believes tering the growth of men, both college and commented that he learned merengue, the that insurance should continue to be regulated post college, by providing an outlet and oppor- typical dance from the Dominican Republic, in by the State, not by the federal government. tunity to serve the community as set forth by the hallway of the family’s fifth-floor walkup as I am pleased to note that although Kent will our founders at Howard University, Edgar A. soon as he could walk. He first fell in love with be retiring, he will never give up his passion— Love, Oscar J. Cooper, Frank Coleman, and the rhythms while at the Palladium Nightclub whether they are for the Main Street insurance Ernest Just. when he was only 16, watching the big bands agents, who have come to call him a close Since its inception in 1911, Omega Psi Phi of Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez. friend, or for his family, or for his music. brothers have been advocates of taking lead- As a teenager, he was famed for producing Kent Olson is one of those people whom ership to prevent violence against women and ‘‘waistline parties’’ in apartment building base- everyone respects, and with many good rea- children in the African-American community, ments where a couple’s admission was a sons. I have had the pleasure of calling Kent supported efforts of the United Negro College penny per inch of their dates’ waistline. Olson a colleague and a friend, and that will Fund and the Congressional Black Caucus, Using the same concept, he then opened never change. and most recently partnered with the American the 3 & 1 Club where he began booking local I am pleased to congratulate and commend Cancer Society and the National Association Latin bands such as Eddie Palmieri and Richie Kent Olson on the occasion of his retirement of Basketball Coaches in Coaches vs. Cancer Ray & Bobby Cruz, among many others. This as executive director of the Professional Insur- in empowering basketball coaches, their led to Mercado’s first management, booking, ance Agents of North Dakota. teams and local communities to make a dif- and promotions company called f ference in the fight against cancer. Showstoppers. He promoted legendary R&B While attending Florida Agricultural and Me- acts that included James Brown, Aretha RECOGNIZING AT&T FOR JOBS chanical University, FAMU, in Tallahassee, Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Stylis- CREATION AND COMMITMENT TO Florida, I had the distinct honor of serving as tics, the Chi-lites, starting a salsa-soul music CLEAN ENERGY Basileus of the Upsilon Psi Chapter of Omega trend. Psi Phi. My experiences as Basileus have Mercado also continued to open many HON. JOE BACA served as the cornerstone in my education doors to up and coming artists. He helped to OF CALIFORNIA and leadership skills that I have carried over expand the Fania All-Stars, promoted dances IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES into this esteemed Chamber in representing at the Cheetah Nightclub, and presented Latin the 17th Congressional District of Florida. jazz at the Red Garter and, later, at the Vil- Tuesday, March 17, 2009 In an esteemed effort to continue Omega lage Gate and other downtown venues. His Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, in this time of Psi Phi’s mission, I know the men of Omega partnership with Jack Hooke, the late Tito economic uncertainty, I rise to thank one com- Psi Phi Fraternity will discuss their legislative Puente’s longtime manager, helped create the pany who is actively working to create new concerns ranging from civil rights, health care Salsa Meets Jazz Series at the Village Gate jobs and practice a clean, environmentally reform and veteran’s affairs to public edu- and the Latin Jazz Jam as part of the JVC friendly business model, AT&T. cation, foreign policy, and economic issues Jazz Festival. Through a new $18 billion initiative, AT&T is while sharing their experiences and raising A great judge of talent, Mercado opened pledging to increase its broadband capacity. awareness of issues affecting our daily lives. RMM Management in 1972 representing Eddie VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:56 Mar 18, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A17MR8.007 E17MRPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with REMARKS March 17, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E685 Palmieri and Ray Barretto. He went on to tions and now produces the D’Latinos Maga- HONORING MILCA GUTIERREZ manage virtually every name in the industry, zine, D’Latinos online and D’Latinos al Dia including its two biggest stars: Tito Puente and program. Mrs. Rosales is Executive Director of HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH Celia Cruz. His concerts grew more popular the monthly magazine and host of the tele- OF CALIFORNIA and by 1987 the wildly successful ‘‘Latin vision show, which has been the only live, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tinge’’ nights at the Palladium on New York’s Spanish language program in the area for six Tuesday, March 17, 2009 14th Street were bringing 3,000 ‘‘salseros’’ to years and airs every weekday in more than dance every Thursday night.