RESOLUTION NO. 010455

Honoring and recognizing Arturo Puente, Consul of Mexico in St. Louis, Missouri.

WHEREAS, Arturo Puente has served as the Consul of Mexico in St. Louis, Missouri since 1997; and

WHEREAS, Consul Puente has had a long and distinguished career as a diplomat serving his country as Consul in several U.S. and Canadian cities, including Montreal, Miami, Houston and Chicago, among others; and

WHEREAS, Consul Puente during his illustrious tenure of the Mexico Consulate in St. Louis has cultivated and developed strong and long lasting relationships not only with the Kansas City - Mexican-American community but the City as a whole; and

WHEREAS, Consul Puente has recently been appointed Consul General of Mexico in New Orleans where he will undoubtedly serve his country with the same highest professional standards that have characterized his career in the Mexican foreign service; and

WHEREAS, Consul Puente has enthusiastically and selflessly assisted and collaborated with several Kansas City metropolitan area organizations such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Heritage Committee, the Cociedad Hidalgo, the Guadalupe Center and El Centro; and

WHEREAS, Kansas City is honored to count Consul Puente as a genuine and loyal friend and promoter and will greatly miss his steadfast support for initiatives that bring Kansas City residents closer to their southern neighbors; and

WHEREAS, Consul Puente has played an invaluable role in promoting better cultural understanding between the people of Mexico and Kansas City by supporting the establishment of sister city relationships with Guadalajara, Morelia and San Nicolas de los Garza; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby recognize and extend their sincere appreciation to Consul Arturo Puente for his years of service to the Kansas City Mexican American and Hispanic community and wish him the best of success in his recent appointment as Consul General of Mexico in New Orleans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Consul Arturo Puente in token of the high esteem in which he is held by the Mayor, Council and citizens of Kansas City.

______________________________________________________