[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 97 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1349-E1350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WINFIELD SCOTT STRATTON: A GREAT HUMANITARIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOEL HEFLEY

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 1998

  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, July 22, 1998, will mark the 150 anniversary 
of the birth of Winfield Scott Stratton, a great Colorado humanitarian.
  In Colorado, this date will be recognized by 25 different events 
celebrating his life and good deeds. It is appropriate that we 
commemorate the deeds of this distinguished humanitarian from Colorado 
Springs, Colorado.

[[Page E1350]]

  He reached out to his fellow man in so many ways during his lifetime. 
His biggest contribution and blessing was his endowment of the Myron 
Stratton Home. Some of his benevolent good deeds include buying the old 
courthouse in Colorado Springs and furnishing the county with the money 
to build a new courthouse on a city block that he provided. He also 
purchased a corner lot downtown for $70,000 offering it to the federal 
government for half of its value in order to build a new post office. 
It was recently named the Winfield Scott Stratton Post Office by a new 
Congressional Act. In addition to these contributions, Stratton also 
built a convention hall and pavilion seating 35,000 people for the use 
of the city and gave five thousand dollars a year to keep it 
maintained. He donated supplies worth $50,000 when the fire of 1896 in 
Cripple Creek Colorado left 5,000 people without shelter or goods. He 
also gave $25,000 to the Colorado School of Mines to complete the 
``Hall of Metallurgy'', recognized by Colorado's 13th General Assembly. 
He made gifts of $70,000 to Colorado College and $25,000 to the 
Colorado Deaf and Blind School. Stratton donated approximately $85,000 
to feed and house the homeless; made substantial contributions to 
churches, supported miners, laborers, laundry women and others in need.
  Stratton's most lasting gift was a bequest in his handwritten will 
directing that his wealth be delivered to the trustees of a charitable 
institution for acting and maintaining a free home, ``for poor persons 
without means of support, and who are physically unable by reason of 
old age, youth, sickness or other infirmity to earn a livelihood.'' 
This home is called the Myron Stratton Home in honor of his father.
  After Stratton ``stuck it rich'' he continued to live frugally and 
simply by helping the poor, saying ``I count my money as a gift from 
the father of us all, and I am responsible for its administration as a 
good steward.'' Stratton backed his philosophy with action and no other 
individual gave so generously to so many individuals and organizations. 
Stratton's benevolent gifts in today's world would be astronomical. 
Before he died in 1902, he gave away over $3 million. In any time of 
prosperity there will be many children from broken homes who could be 
helped by homes like the Myron Stratton Home. Winfield Scott Stratton, 
was a man of vision and one of Colorado's greatest humanitarians. His 
good deeds continue to be a good example of our need to help one 
another.

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