H. Res. 344

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

November 8, 1999.

Whereas William Payne Stewart was born in Springfield,

Missouri, on January 30, 1957;

Whereas Payne Stewart was the son of William Stewart and

Bee Payne-Stewart and brother of Susan and Lora;

Whereas Payne Stewart grew up in a loving family in Springfield, Missouri, and was instilled with the strong family

values of hard work, academic achievement, and good

sportsmanship;

Whereas although Payne Stewart was a good athlete in football and basketball, under the mentoring of his father, he

took up the game of golf, practicing and playing at Hickory Hills Country Club and growing to love the game and

its history;

Whereas Payne Stewart grew proficient in the game of golf

during his years at Greenwood High School and at

Southern Methodist University in Texas where he earned

the status of ‘‘All-American’’;

Whereas Payne Stewart attained two milestones in 1981,

marrying Marries Theresa ‘‘Tracey’’ Ferguson and qualifying for his Professional Golfer’s Card;

Whereas Payne Stewart donned what became his trademark

knickers, long socks and cap and won his first profes-
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sional golf tournament in 1982 at the Quad Cities Open

in Illinois—the only professional golf tournament victory

his father ever saw him win;

Whereas Payne Stewart won 11 professional golf tournaments, including the United States Open in 1991 and

1999 and the Professional Golfers’ Association Championship in 1989, and was a member of the United

States Ryder Cup Team 5 times, including the team that

staged the greatest comeback victory in the history of the

event in 1999;

Whereas in 1994, Payne Stewart was among the first athletes inducted in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame;

Whereas Payne Stewart was never selfish with his successes,

sharing generously with many charitable organizations,

including giving his entire Bay Hill Classic winner’s

purse of $108,000 to the Florida Hospital Golden Circle

of Friends in memory of his father;

Whereas just last year Payne Stewart and his wife donated

$500,000 to the First Foundation, the fund raising arm

of the First Baptist Church of Orlando, to be used for

the expansion of a Christian school;

Whereas Payne Stewart always found time to be a golf teacher and mentor to children who were learning the game,

returning to Springfield in late July 1999 to conduct one

of many children’s clinics for would-be future golf competitors;

Whereas Payne Stewart served as a role model for his Christian faith and his sport in countless public and private

ways;

Whereas Payne Stewart was a loving husband to his wife

Tracey, daughter Chelsea, and son Aaron;
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Whereas Payne Stewart was viewed by his friends and former

classmates as a fun-loving, warm, and smiling man with

a joy for life, his family and his sport;

Whereas Payne Stewart transcended the game of golf as a

timeless symbol of athletic talent, spirited competition,

and a role model for people of all ages; and

Whereas Payne Stewart died in a tragic plane crash on October 25, 1999, along with Van Arden, Stephanie

Bellegarrigue, Bruce Borland, Robert Fraley, and Michael Kling: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes and honors Payne Stewart—

(A) as one of the greatest golfers;

(B) for his many contributions to the Nation

throughout his lifetime; and

(C) for transcending the game of golf and becoming a timeless symbol of athletic talent, spirited

competition, and a role model as a Christian gentleman and a loving father and husband; and

(2) extends its deepest condolences to the families

of Payne Stewart and the other victims in the plane

crash, Van Arden, Stephanie Bellegarrigue, Bruce

Borland, Robert Fraley, and Michael Kling, on their

tragic loss.
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SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall

transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of

each of the victims.

Attest:

Clerk.