[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H5393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              BILLY CASPER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
Duncan), of the ``Duncan Caucus,'' for that fine speech that he just 
made and I will be chairman next year, hopefully, and then he can 
follow me in these special orders.
  Mr. Speaker, let me give my kudos to a great athlete, one of the 
greatest athletes who ever resided in the county of San Diego where I 
live, and where my good golfing buddies the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Cunningham) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Packard) also 
live, two pretty good athletes themselves, because Billy Casper is one 
of the greatest golfers who ever lived on the face of the Earth.

                              {time}  1845

  He had a record of over 50 victories, including three majors. Now 
after his playing time on the regular tour, PGA tour has long since 
passed, Billy Casper just did something this last week that is quite 
extraordinary.
  He went to Utah to play in Johnny Miller's champion's challenge and 
Johnny Miller's champion's challenge, if you read the list of the 
players who participated, read like the book of champions. Included in 
the field were Gary Player and his son, Johnny Miller and his son, Jack 
Nicklaus and his son, Hale Irwin and his son, John Daley, Laura Davies, 
Julie Inkster, Lisssolette Neuman, two of the great players on the 
women's tour, Craig Stadler and Fuzzy Zoeller and, of course, Billy 
Casper and his own son Bob.
  Billy Casper in this tournament, which was a two-man scramble, I 
understand there was a $500,000 tournament, $125,000 to the winners, 
Billy Casper and Bob Casper, his son, won that tournament at 11 under 
par.
  Billy Casper was always remembered as being one of the finest 
putters, probably the finest putter and short game player in the 
history of the game. He had a putting stroke that was unmatched by 
anybody. And when we had the recent U.S. Open at the Olympic Golf 
Course in San Francisco just this last week, we were all reminded of 
1966, when Billy Casper trailed Arnold Palmer by 7 strokes with only 9 
holes to go in the championship, tied him on that last 9 holes, Billy 
Casper, our Billy, shot a 32 to Arnold Palmer's 39 and Billy then won 
the playoff the next day.
  The trophy in this particular Champion's Challenge was made by Mark 
Martinson, one of our great western artists. It is a wonderful trophy. 
It is a bronze trophy entitled, Champions in the Making, and Mark 
Martinson is one of our budding artists and also a great golfer who 
accompanied Billy Casper to this tournament in Utah. So San Diego 
recognizes you, Billy, as being one of the greatest champions whoever 
lived and whoever graced our wonderful county in San Diego. We hope to 
see you win a lot more tournaments.

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