LAREDO, Tex.

(KGNS) - A section of the Bartlett Soccer Complex will be renamed to honor Roque Vela Sr., a veteran, advocate, former commissioner and Laredo ISD board member who died last month.

City council member Ruben Gutierrez Jr. said during Monday's meeting, Aug. 17, that Vela "was a pillar to our community."Gutierrez placed an item on the agenda to rename the soccer complex after Vela Sr. Before the motion passed, Roque Vela Jr., former council member and son of Vela Sr., spoke about what the renaming means to him and his family."To be able to have this, and for my family to go and just know that the community appreciated him that much, and having all these accolades, if you will, come after his passing has helped with the grieving process," Roque Vela Jr. said.