Pete Suazo Memorial Highway
The Utah House of Representatives passed SB 117 today, which designates Route 68 in Salt Lake City from 2100 South to 1700 North as the Pete Suazo Memorial Highway. The bill was sponsored by Senator Luz Robles, D–Salt Lake City (Senate District 1) and Representative Jen Seelig, D–Salt Lake City (House District 23).
Pete Suazo was the first Hispanic Utah State Senator. He was tragically killed in a Hunting / ATV accident in 2001.
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Suazo graduated from the University of Utah . Suazo was first elected to the Utah State House of Representatives in 1992 and to the Utah State Senate in 1996. After his death his widow Alicia Suazo finished out his term.
What follows are the comments presented on the floor of the House of Representatives today, with Pete Suazo's family looking on.
Congratulations to the Suazo Family. Your loss is our loss. Pete will always be remembered fondly.
The Suazo Family Listens to the Utah House of Representatives discuss SB 117.
Comments from the Floor:
Rep. Jennifer Seelig: Pete Suazo was Utah's first Latino Senator, and served Utah's district 23– the district that I currently serve– from 1993 to 1996. And He served in the utah Senate, district 1– the district the Senator Robles currently serves– from 1997 to 2001. He represented in part, Salt Lake City's west side neighborhoods. The Utah State Legislature lost a great role model, public servant, and hero and August 20, 2001 in a hunting / ATV accident. Many of us had
the opportunity to meet, and work with the late Senator Suazo. He inspired youth, especially Hispanic youth, in part through coaching and other sports. Upon his death, his wife Alicia stepped up in the midst of a strife that i cannot even begin to imagine to serve our district and state. And this was while she was also being a mother and an educator. She was a great mentor to me personally, especially when I first started in the legislature. Both Pete and Alicia were very supportive of me, and Alicia continues to offer that support. Even as a younger person in the area, when I worked as a receptionist in the constituent services for the Salt Lake City Council Office. Pete in fact taught me how to fish, and I don't just mean that metaphorically; he taught me how to ice fish. And so I have got some great memories from that. Thank you.
Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am going to try to speak without losing my calm. I worked many hours helping Pete with his campaign and I have known his family Becky and others, and Alicia. And I just want folks to know what a wonderful example he was. For many of us who work in public service, he told us to never take "no" for an answer. He told us to always be true to ourselves and our community. And I just want his family to know that he will never ever be forgotten. Thank you.
Rep. Tim Cosgrove: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'd like to speak in support of this. I have very fond memories of Senator Suazo– good friend of mine even before I ran for office. But the most valuable lesson that he taught me was not just a tolerance for people that you have an opposing view or position with, but an acceptance. He was a bridge builder, and he always reached out across to the other side to make sure that he understood. It didn't mean that he couldn't fight if he needed to fight, nobody fought like Pete Suazo did. A good colleague of mine who sat next to my right when I started here in the House, Lou Shurtliff, carried a pair of boxing gloves around with her everywhere she went. She had them hanging on her microphone just to remember that. And so I also want to speak very fondly of the former Senator and appreciate the lessons and the statesmanship that he taught me. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Rep. Carl Wimmer: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would also rise in support of this. A very little known fact about me: fifteen years ago, and about 150 pounds ago, I was a golden glove fighter. Pete Suazo often came into the City Center Boxing Club and supported us young fighters, especially the ones who couldn't afford to do anything, to pay the monthly dues. He was there for them, and he was always so supportive of the Golden Gloves in Utah. And he was always so supportive of the "little guy who didn't have a chance." Well, I commend you, and I support this. Thank you.
Rep. Mark Wheatley: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk a little bit about Pete and the many attributes he had. One particular attribute that he had that I have really taken to heart (the speaker initially talked about it at the beginning of our session), and that was "to take time." Pete always took time, no matter who talked to him, even if he didn't have time, he would take time. He didn't care if it was from the left or the right, from the center, the poor, the rich, he always had the time to speak and listen. He was an excellent listener. I am proud to say, as my family would say (we're from the same area), "gracias mi gente." And I am very proud to support SB 117.
Rep. Neil Hansen: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I had an opportunity to work with Senator Suazo for about 2.5 years. He was a man that was very eloquent when he spoke– something that I wish I had today. But one of the greatest gifts that he had was working with his Peregrine Falcon. And I had just talked to him three weeks earlier before his death about coming up and doing a demonstration to my scouts about the hawk. He was so excited to be asked to do that. Unfortunately we didn't have that opportunity. For men like him to be able to show how much they cared about wildlife, and especially for the falcon, which is one of the greatest fouls on the Earth, which I think really show the character he had for love of life. And I appreciate the family, and all the things they have done or the wonderful community in the state of Utah. I urge your support of this bill as well. Thank you.
Rep. Greg Hughes: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise in support as well and want to thank the Suazo family. I evolved in the sport of boxing. I see these amateur boxers who need strong male role models, and they need discipline and direction in their lives. And your family, not just the Senator, but your family, I have been very involved in that and recognizing this as a productive path for so many of our young people in the State. And it's grown, we have the Pete Suazo Athletic Commission, what a great commission. With his name attached to it, it has grown into a commission that has sanctioned events every single weekend in the state of Utah. And they proudly wear the Senator's name on their badges. It's paying homage to your family and all that you have done. And I just want to personally thank you for your contribution. And it is still a legacy that we feel all the time. Thank you.
Rep. Jennifer Seelig: Thank you Mr. Speaker. So, the bill states that route 68, from 2100 south to 1700 N, will be designated the Pete Suazo Memorial Highway. It won't cost the State any additional money because the signs along the highway will be replaced as the other signs are worn down, so it's sort of the natural course of things. Redwood Road is a widely known name, and the name will be retained, with "Pete Suazo Memorial Highway" added at the bottom.
So the other question is why do we name things, and why is this important? It is a marker of a history, of a people, of a community, a story, a shared story to join diverse neighbors into common neighborhoods. It is important to know that from a person from your home area who shares your common experience, who understands who you are, that that person succeeded, made it, despite what other may say about you because you don't look like them. Naming delineates a goal. An attainable one. And once one of our own reaches it, we all know that it's possible.
And we know to never ever give up. Thank you.
Speaker: Voting will be closed. SB 117 passes this house with 71 yes, and 0 no.
