[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1029 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1029

 Congratulating and recognizing Mr. Juan Antonio ``Chi-Chi'' Rodriguez 
   for his continued success on and off of the golf course, for his 
generosity and devotion to charity, and for his exemplary dedication to 
   the intellectual and moral growth of thousands of low-income and 
                  disadvantaged youth in our country.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 6, 2008

Mr. Gutierrez (for himself, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Baca, Mrs. 
 Christensen, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Salazar, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. 
Roybal-Allard, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Butterfield, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Towns, 
     Mr. Conyers, Ms. Norton, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Watt, Mr. Brady of 
    Pennsylvania, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Sires, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of 
 Florida, Ms. Berkley, and Mrs. Jones of Ohio) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Congratulating and recognizing Mr. Juan Antonio ``Chi-Chi'' Rodriguez 
   for his continued success on and off of the golf course, for his 
generosity and devotion to charity, and for his exemplary dedication to 
   the intellectual and moral growth of thousands of low-income and 
                  disadvantaged youth in our country.

Whereas sports figures, through their perseverance, discipline, and good 
        behavior, can serve as examples of excellence, dedication, and devotion 
        to our youth;
Whereas Chi-Chi Rodriguez was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on October 23, 
        1935, and rose from the most humble of circumstances as the fifth of the 
        6 children of a agricultural laborer and a housekeeper;
Whereas these hardships did not harden him but motivated him to become a great 
        sportsman, humanitarian, and role model;
Whereas Chi-Chi joined the ranks of golf professionals at the age of 24, 
        reportedly standing at 5 foot seven inches and weighing 117 pounds;
Whereas Chi-Chi Rodriguez had a stellar career in the sport of golf, earning an 
        impressive record of 38 professional wins, including 8 PGA Tour wins and 
        22 Senior PGA Tour wins;
Whereas his Senior Tour records for most consecutive victories, at 4, and most 
        consecutive birdies, at 8, still stand;
Whereas in 1979, Chi-Chi Rodriguez helped create the Chi-Chi Rodriguez Youth 
        Foundation, and the Chi-Chi Rodriguez Academy in Clearwater, Florida, 
        which have collectively raised more than $4,000,000 to help thousands of 
        low-income and disadvantaged youth reach their life potential through 
        educational opportunities and support programs, including a public 
        partnership school, a community service program, a nine-hole golf course 
        and others, and has been recognized by receiving the 1986 National Golf 
        Foundation Award for best Youth Program in the United States, becoming 
        the 758th President Bush's Point of Light, and receiving the Robie Award 
        for Humanitarianism presented by the Jackie Robinson Foundation, among 
        others;
Whereas Chi-Chi Rodriguez has joined with the FBI Agents Association to lead the 
        Chi-Chi Rodriguez G-Man Desert Shootout Tournament devoted to raising 
        funds for college scholarships for the children of FBI agents killed in 
        the line of duty;
Whereas in 1989, the United States Golf Association, founded in 1894, granted 
        Chi-Chi Rodriguez its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in recognition 
        for his distinguished sportsmanship in golf;
Whereas in 1994, Chi-Chi Rodriguez was inducted to the first class of the World 
        Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame for ``world class athletic ability'', 
        for being ``a role model in his community'', and for having ``a strong 
        record of humanitarian efforts'';
Whereas in 1992, Chi-Chi Rodriguez was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame, 
        ``Golf's highest honor'';
Whereas in 1973, Chi-Chi Rodriguez was a member of the U.S. team that won the 
        Ryder Cup in Muirfield, Scotland;
Whereas in 1981, Chi-Chi Rodriguez was selected by the Northern Ohio Golf 
        Charities as its first Ambassador of Golf;
Whereas Chi-Chi Rodriguez has received countless other distinguished awards and 
        recognitions such as the 1974 Charlie Bartlett Award of the Golf Writers 
        Association, the 1981 Richardson Award of the Golf Writers Association 
        of America, the 1982 Father of the Year Award, the 1986 Card Walker 
        Award (Outstanding Contribution to Junior Golf), the 1986 Salvation Army 
        Gold Crest Award, the 12th Roberto Clemente Cup, the 1986 Byron Nelson 
        Award, the 1986 Hispanic Achievement Recognition Award, the 1987 Byron 
        Nelson Award, the 1987 Senior Tour Arnold Palmer Award, the 1988 Fred 
        Raphael Golf Achievement Award, the 1989 Old Tom Morris Award, the 1990 
        ``Caring for Kids'' Award, the 1991 Jackie Robinson Humanitarian Award, 
        the 1993 Civilian Meritorious Service Medal presented by the Department 
        of Defense, the 1997 International Network of Golf Award, the 1998 Ford 
        Achievement Award, and the 2003 Paul Runyan Memorial Recognition Award, 
        among others;
Whereas Chi-Chi Rodriguez has authored and coauthored several books and articles 
        about golf, such as ``Chi Chi's Secrets of Power Golf'' in 1967, 
        ``Everybody's Golf Book'' in 1975, ``Chi Chi's Power Pack'' in 1982, 
        ``Every Golfer's Guide to Lower Scores by Chi-Chi Rodriguez'' in 1990, 
        and ``Chi Chi's Golf Games You Gotta Play'' in 2003, among others;
Whereas his philosophy of life can be summarized by his quoted expressions ``For 
        me, satisfaction comes from knowing that I was put on this planet to 
        leave it better ...'', and ``A man never stands taller than when he 
        stoops to help a child'';
Whereas Chi-Chi Rodriguez embodies the spirit of generosity and humanism of his 
        fellow Puerto Rican, Roberto Clemente; and
Whereas as a native of Puerto Rico, Chi-Chi Rodriguez has proven to be an 
        important role model and source of pride for all Puerto Ricans, as well 
        as all Latin Americans and all immigrants to the United States from 
        across the globe: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates Chi-Chi Rodriguez for his successes in 
        the sport of golf in the United States and throughout the 
        world;
            (2) commends Chi-Chi Rodriguez for his exemplary conduct as 
        a private citizen;
            (3) commends Chi-Chi Rodriguez for a life devoted to 
        service to others, in particular, for his help to low-income 
        and underprivileged youth, and to the children of FBI agents 
        killed in the line of duty; and
            (4) expresses gratitude for his service as a role model and 
        an inspiration for our youth, the people of Puerto Rico, and 
        the United States.
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