[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 49 (Tuesday, April 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MARY FENDRICH HULMAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a unique and 
great American. Mary Hulman was Chair of the board of directors of the 
Indianapolis Motor Speedway when she died 2 weeks ago at the age of 93.
  Most Americans would not recognize her, but they heard Mary Hulman's 
voice many times over the years at the Indianapolis 500 when she 
commanded the drivers ``Gentlemen, start your engines.'' That may have 
been her highest-profile activity, but Mary Hulman was much more.
  She was well-known for her generous philanthropic public service, 
even though she contributed with little fanfare. She was a major 
benefactor and board member of several organizations, including Rose-
Hulman Institute of Technology, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, the 
Indianapolis Museum of Art and Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute. Ms. 
Hulman was steadfast in her devotion to her Catholic faith and her 
support for Catholic charities.
  The Indianapolis Star said in an editorial that Mary Hulman always 
exemplified Jesus' teaching in the gospel of Matthew that giving should 
be done away from the blare of trumpets and the sight of men. She never 
sought recognition for her charity work and always looked for ways that 
she could do more.

                              {time}  1815

  Mary Hulman was born into a wealthy family but she never acted as 
though wealth was her birthright. She knew that much is expected from 
those who have received much. Over the years, Mary Hulman gave away 
much of her fortune. Her gifts included $3.5 million to the 
Indianapolis Museum of Art and $2 million to Indiana State University 
for a student union complex.
  Her daughter's love of horses led Mary Hulman to give $629,000 to 
endow the Mari Hulman George School of Equine studies at St. Mary-in-
the-Woods College. She also donated $500,000 needed to repair the 
college's science building.
  Mary Hulman served on the development board of Wabash College and was 
active in the Public Health Nursing Association of Terre Haute. She 
also served on many agencies for the benefit of St. Anthony's Hospital 
in Terre Haute.
  She was the granddaughter of Hermann Fendrich, a German immigrant and 
the founder of the LaFendrich Cigar Company. Her father took over the 
company and operated it until his death.
  In 1926, Mary married Tony Hulman and lived in Terre Haute, where 
Tony was a well-known and prosperous businessman. Tony Hulman was the 
owner of the speedway for many years. Together he and Mary worked to 
keep the Indianapolis 500 the world's premier event in motor racing.
  Legendary racer A.J. Foyt said that the new generation of racers will 
never know the struggles and hardship of Tony and Mary Hulman that they 
endured to make the speedway an international success. The Hulmans had 
taken Foyt in and given him food and a place to stay when he was a 
young man down on his luck. Mary was known for her kindness to new 
racers coming up through the ranks.
  Mary Hulman thought her husband had bought a pig in a poke when in 
1945 he acquired the speedway. But later she said, ``I was wrong.'' 
Last year Mary Hulman was inducted into the Speedway Hall of Fame.
  St. Francis of Assisi said, ``When there is charity and wisdom, there 
is neither fear nor ignorance.'' Mary Hulman spent her life dispelling 
fear and ignorance through her support of education and charity to the 
less fortunate. Mary Hulman set an example for Americans in 
selflessness and sacrifice. The world is truly a better place for her 
93 years of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following editorial from the Indianapolis 
Star on the life of Mary Hulman.

              [From the Indianapolis Star, Apr. 14, 1998]

                             A Gentle Lady

       Matthew's Gospel counsels that charitable giving be done in 
     quiet, away from the blare of trumpets and the sight of men: 
     ``. . . let not thy left hand know what they right hand 
     doeth.''
       That advice characterized the generosity and spirit of Mary 
     Fendrich Hulman, who committed her life to worthwhile causes 
     yet managed to escape the spotlight that surround one of 
     Indiana's richest and most prominent families.
       The widow of longtime Speedway owner Tony Hulman died 
     Friday at age 93. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12:05 
     p.m. today in St. Benedict Catholic Church, Terre Haute.
       Although she shied away from publicity, Mrs. Hulman 
     couldn't avoid the annual minute of global fame that 
     accompanied the start of the Indy 500 when she issued the 
     legendary command, ``Gentlemen, start your engines.'' It was 
     a duty she assumed after her husband's death in 1977 and 
     continued to take seriously even after her health began to 
     fail a few years back.
       Married to a millionaire businessman, Mrs. Hulman had 
     philanthropic resources in her own right as the granddaughter 
     of Hermann Fendrich, a German immigrant who founded 
     LaFendrich Cigar Co. A patron of the arts, Mrs. Hulman was a 
     trustee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art and a member of the 
     board of overseers of Terre Haute's Swope Art Museum.
       Her financial contributions to museum, church and higher 
     education institutions were innumerable. Her faith and love 
     of the Catholic Church were unmistakable.
       ``Always gracious and unassuming, she quietly provided 
     assistance for the museum's ongoing programs and for projects 
     she knew would benefit the community and the state,'' noted 
     Richard Wood, chairman of the board of governors of the 
     Indianapolis Museum of Art.
       Mrs. Hulman was an important figure in the racing world and 
     remembered for her hospitality to drivers and their families. 
     In 1997, she was inducted into the Speedway Hall of Fame 
     along with two-time Indy winner Gordon Johncock.
       But her role in this community far exceeded just being the 
     wife of a very famous man. Her commitment to community leaves 
     a legacy that rivals the motorsports legacy left by her late 
     husband.

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