[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 229 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 229

                   Honoring Willliam Clifton France.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 7, 2007

  Mr. Nelson of Florida (for himself and Mr. Martinez) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
                   Honoring Willliam Clifton France.

Whereas William Clifton France, NASCAR patriarch and visionary, was born on 
        April 4, 1933, in Washington, DC;
Whereas Mr. France grew up in the formative years of stock car racing, living 
        and learning every detail of the sport from his own experiences and 
        those of his father, William Henry Getty France, known as ``Big Bill'' 
        because of his 6-foot-5 stature, who was the founder and first president 
        of NASCAR;
Whereas, in 1972, William Clifton France replaced his father and became the 
        second president of the world's largest auto-racing sanctioning body;
Whereas, during the 28-year tenure of Mr. France as president, and later 
        chairman and chief executive officer, of NASCAR, NASCAR grew from a 
        sport with regional appeal to draw more than 75,000,000 fans yearly and 
        become the second-most popular sport on television in the United States;
Whereas Mr. France worked in every role in stock car racing, from flagging 
        events to scoring, promoting, serving as a steward, and even racing a 
        few times in the 1950s;
Whereas, before being named president of NASCAR, Mr. France served for 6 years 
        as vice president of the organization;
Whereas, in addition to his NASCAR duties, Mr. France served as chairman of the 
        board of International Speedway Corporation, which oversees Daytona 
        International Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, and 
        other racing facilities around the country, and served as a director of 
        the National Motorsports Council of ACCUS-FIA; and
Whereas Mr. France was a visionary and served the motorsports industry with 
        great distinction: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate extends its condolences to Mrs. Betty 
Jane France, Lesa France Kennedy, Brian France, and the entire France 
Family.
                                 <all>