[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 91 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THE LATE GORDON BYNUM

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. MARSHALL ``MARK'' SANFORD

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 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 forty-four 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 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 
Laura Lee, 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.

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