[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1354-E1355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO GORDON BYNUM

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. MARSHALL ``MARK'' SANFORD

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 1999

  Mr. SANFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to, and say 
good-bye to, a dear friend. Gordon you will be missed, but not 
forgotten. Gordon Bynum was the living definition of the word, 
``friend.'' This spring, on what turned out to be his last trip down to 
Coosaw, he called my wife, Jenny, ahead of time to say he wanted to 
come early to get things ready for the party. He was there and helped. 
This was part of a well worn pattern in the way he lived his life. 
Getting there early, staying later--going the extra mile--was what he 
thought normal. If I had ever found myself in real trouble with the 
option of only one call, it would have been to Gordon.
  In his 44 years he did not spectate on life, he lived it. When 
Atlanta was still sleeping, I remember leaving town in the early 
morning hours to go on one of his crazy mountain canoe trips. Exotic 
locations, atlases, wilderness maps were part of Gordon's world; Jenny 
and I still have at the house National Geographic books he had sent 
after our wedding. In fact, his birthday card to me, this year, one I 
received two days after his death, had penned at the bottom, 
``Adventure soon?''
  Finally, he lived a life that towers as an example to each of my four 
boys. At dinner on Tuesday upon hearing the story of Gordon's death, a 
friend asked, ``Was he a Christian?'' I said, ``Absolutely.'' Whereupon 
he asked, ``How do you know?'' I said, ``Because Matthew 5:16 says let 
your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and

[[Page E1355]]

give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.'' He had the light, you 
could see it in his eyes and in his actions. One of those actions was 
his work at the Sheppard Clinic. He loved the patients and they loved 
him, despite the fact volunteerism is a trait lost on most bachelors. 
In short, he didn't spend his time talking about his faith, he lived 
it. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and 
self-control are what the Bible calls the fruit--the byproduct--of the 
spirit. He had it in abundance. He would have given love and more 
generously to Marilee, who he was to have married two weeks after his 
death. Love was the easiest word to describe him, and I suppose what I 
will most miss. Good-bye.

                          ____________________