IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 344
Recognizing and honoring Payne Stewart and expressing the condolences
of the House of Representatives to his family on his death and to
the families of those who died with him.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 27, 1999
Mr. BLUNT (for himself, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. DELAY, Mr. BURTON of Indi-
ana, Mr. TALENT, Mrs. EMERSON, Ms. DANNER, Mr. GEPHARDT, Ms.
MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. HUTCHINSON,
Mr. TANNER, Mr. RYUN of Kansas, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, and Mr.
LARGENT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Government Reform
RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring Payne Stewart and expressing the
condolences of the House of Representatives to his family
on his death and to the families of those who died
with him.
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 Spring-
field, Missouri, and was instilled with the strong family
•HRES 344 IH
values of hard work, academic achievement, and good
sportsmanship;
Whereas although Payne Stewart was a good athlete in foot-
ball and basketball, under the mentoring of his father, he
took up the game of golf, practicing and playing at Hick-
ory 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 quali-
fying for his Professional Golfer’s Card;
Whereas Payne Stewart donned what became his trademark
knickers, long socks and cap and won his first profes-
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 tour-
naments, including the United States Open in 1991 and
1999 and the Professional Golfers’ Association Cham-
pionship 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 ath-
letes 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
•HRES 344 IH
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 teach-
er 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 com-
petitors;
Whereas Payne Stewart served as a role model for his Chris-
tian 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;
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 Octo-
ber 25, 1999, along with Van Arden, Stephanie
Bellegarrigue, Bruce Borland, Robert Fraley, and Mi-
chael Kling: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes and honors Payne Stewart—
(A) as one of the greatest golfers;
•HRES 344 IH
(B) for his many contributions to the Na-
tion 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 fami-
lies 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.
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.
Æ