[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1411-S1412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO UTAH'S MOTHER OF THE YEAR

 Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Sybil Shumway Stewart, Utah's 1996 Mother of the Year. I want to 
recognize her for the decades of service to her community, her church, 
and her family. We have been proud to have her represent our State this 
past year.
  Sybil Shumway was born in Trenton, UT, on April 1, 1920, the youngest 
of four daughters, raised under the most humble of circumstances during 
the Great Depression. Sybil's father was a schoolteacher who taught in 
Cache County schools and was respected throughout the community. From 
the earliest age, her parents instilled in her the fundamental values 
of hard work, honesty and integrity, sacrifice and service.
  As a student in junior high school, Sybil recalls her civics teacher 
detailing the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany and subsequently learned 
to cherish and value the freedoms many of us often take for granted. 
She committed herself at that time to serving her community and 
country. She also recognized the importance that she teach her own 
children to cherish these same values.
  Sybil graduated from Logan High School and Utah State University in 
1942. Her desire to give something back to her community led her to 
pursue an occupation as a schoolteacher. While she only taught for a 
short while, she sees many of her students today. Her students never 
fail to express their appreciation for the skills they learned in her 
home economics class.
  On Valentine's Day 1943, Sybil Shumway received an engagement ring in 
the mail from a young Army Air Corps lieutenant named Boyd Stewart, 
whom she had dated in college. They were married on May 21, 1943, while 
Boyd was home on weekend leave. They embarked on their life together 
and left that night for Randolph Field in Texas where Boyd was 
stationed as a flight instructor. After 20-plus years of Air Force duty 
and more than 30 years of running two farms, their marriage is still 
going strong almost 54 years later.
  Sybil and Boyd raised 10 children; 6 boys and 4 girls. They taught 
their children the value of hard work and service to their fellow men. 
They instilled in each of them a love of God, country, community, and 
family. Sybil and Boyd's children went on to become schoolteachers, 
government administrators, successful business owners, elected 
officials, community activists, farmers, Scout leaders, a published 
author, and a world record holder. Five of their six sons served in our 
Nation's Armed Forces. Four of those sons served as missionaries for 
their church. Most important, following the example of their mother, 
those 10 children are now devoted parents to 41 grandchildren and 8 
great-grandchildren. Indeed, Sybil's legacy and example will live on 
for generations to come.
  In our world today, success is unfortunately often measured by great 
wealth, an expensive education, and the recognition and honors of men. 
Sybil Stewart has proven that the

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greatest success one can have is within the walls of their own home. I 
congratulate her on the completion of her term as Utah's 1996 Mother of 
the Year. I know that to her family however, she will always be the 
Mother of the Year.

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