Sentence:  I <WSD>pay</WSD> my personal tribute to Sam Rayburn , stalwart Texan and great American , not only because today he establishes a record of having served as Speaker of the House of Representatives more than twice as long as Henry Clay , but because of the contributions he has made to the welfare of the people of the Nation during his almost half century of service as a Member of Congress . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow