[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E589-E590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING NORTH RICHLAND HILLS MAYOR OSCAR TREVINO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2024

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Oscar Trevino as 
he retires as Mayor of the City of North Richland Hills. In doing so, 
he concludes a total of 25 years of dedicated public service as a 
member of the NRH Council, 22 years of which he led the City as Mayor. 
He steps down as the longest-serving Mayor in the history of North 
Richland Hills.
  Privately, Mr. Trevino was the owner of O. Trevino Construction, 
having graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science 
in Civil Engineering in 1979. Mr. Trevino was first elected to the NRH 
City Council in May, 1999, and resigned during his second term after 
being elected Mayor in June 2002. During this time he not only served 
as a City official and business owner, but also engaged actively with a 
number of Local, State and National organizations. These included 
active board leadership positions with the National League of Cities; 
the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials 
(NALEO); the Tarrant Regional Transportation Council (TRTC); Tarrant 
County Mayors Council; the Regional Transportation Council (RTC); 
Partners in Mobility; North Central Texas Council of Governments 
(NCTCOG); the Coalition for Better Transportation; Regional Transit 
Initiative Committee; Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) Advisory 
Council; North Texas Commission; TEX-21 Committee; North Texas Super 
Bowl XLV Host Committee Council of Mayors; Birdville ISD Foundation of 
Education; Medical City North Hills Board; Northeast Leadership Forum; 
and the Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce, to name but only a few.
  Utilizing his considerable organizational and public skills as Mayor, 
residents of not only North Richland Hills, but from across the North 
Texas region as well, benefitted greatly from his educational 
background and the experience and connections he earned as a successful 
heavy-highway contractor. Awards including the NCTCOG William J. 
Pitstick Regional Excellence Award, the FWHCC Businessman of the Year 
and John V. McMillan Hall of Fame Award, and the Excalibur Award from 
the NE Tarrant Chamber are a sampling of the acknowledgement he 
received from his peers for his well-regarded impact.
  As the 3rd largest municipality in Tarrant County, North Richland 
Hills grew from 55,000 to over 70,000 during Mayor Trevino's terms in 
office. Supporting this growth, Mayor Trevino worked to ensure adequate 
infrastructure, including over $100 million on the city's streets. He 
also sought to build strong regional partnerships to increase mobility 
through highway improvements and the addition of TEXRail as legacies to 
benefit the community for generations.
  Leading the Council and staff as stewards of public funds, Mayor 
Trevino sought to invest in high-quality services, with a sensitivity 
of the tax burden for senior citizens and homeowners. Investments in 
parks, equipment and staff were made to ensure the needs of the City's 
expanding population were met. Significant updates to aging facilities 
accomplished during his tenure included a new City Hall as well as new 
fire and police stations, expanding and equipping the City's 
professional responders with the best training and tools available to 
ensure safety and security remained a hallmark in support of NRH's 
quality of life. Additionally, a modern library, recreation center, 
animal shelter and senior center were also completed, along with 
improvements to Iron Horse Golf Course and NRH20 Family Water Park. 
These facilities provided citizens with community amenities that have 
allowed the City to provide unique recreation programs and host 
numerous annual special events. As investments, they also supported NRH 
with an identity as a desired destination location to support the 
Nation's second Peppa Pig Theme Park.

[[Page E590]]

  These improvements also supported economic efforts within the City to 
reduce the retail vacancy rate to 6.3 percent, the lowest since his 
early days on council. This was a significant accomplishment in spite 
of significant challenges including the pandemic and recessions. The 
achievement was accomplished by focusing not only on the newly 
developed neighborhoods, but also including the City's historic areas 
to redevelop park areas and infrastructure to keep the areas vibrant. 
The economic vitality is evidenced with the additions of Babe's, 
Sweetie Pie's, Patriotic Pig, Floor & Decor, Winco, Platinum Music 
Complex, Painted Tree, Gritr Sports, Seconds & Surplus, Warespace, 
Truby Hilton Hotel and the development of Volli Entertainment. These 
private investments only foreshadow the potential of the former mall 
property redevelopment as new businesses and a Homewood Suites by 
Hilton are developed around the City's new City Hall.
  As the Mayor steps down from his duties, I am proud of all he has 
accomplished for his beloved City and for the region that has been 
blessed with his public leadership and service. I have appreciated his 
wisdom and insight on many occasions and I will personally miss his 
counsel and friendship. However, I also understand the sacrifice public 
service requires of family. I wish Mayor Trevino a long retirement with 
his wife Carol, his children and his granddaughter Reis, to make-up for 
the time lost as he served. The City, our region and our State are all 
better as a result of his service.

                          ____________________