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 Spring-
field, 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 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-
•HRES 344 EH
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
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;
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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 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;
(B) for his many contributions to the Nation
throughout his lifetime; and
(C) for transcending the game of golf and be-
coming a timeless symbol of athletic talent, spirited
competition, and a role model as a Christian gen-
tleman 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.