[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S15081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING NOTAH BEGAY III AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL AMERICANS

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, in celebration of American Indian 
Heritage Month I rise today to celebrate the accomplishments of one 
remarkable young man Notah Begay III. You may have heard of Mr. Begay 
as he was a two-time PGA tour winner this season with victories at the 
Reno-Tahoe Open and the Michelob Championship. This is a true 
accomplishment by any standard, but even more significant when you 
consider that he is only 27. I rise today to honor Mr. Begay because of 
the fact that he is the first full-blooded Native American to play on 
the Professional Golf Association Tour.
  Notah's path to success is uncommon among his peers in the PGA. He 
didn't grow up in a privileged environment. While the Begay family was 
not poor, they did not have the resources to pay for costly private 
golf lessons for young Notah. In exchange for golf balls and practice 
time, Notah often woke up at 5:00 AM to move carts, wash range balls 
and serve as an all-around gopher at the city-owned course in 
Albuquerque. And when Notah visited his grandparents on the Navajo 
Reservation, the determined young golfer would hit golf balls off of 
the hard clay dirt of the reservation. Still today, the Navajo Nation 
does not have one golf course on its 25,000 square miles.
  Despite his uncommon beginnings, Notah has been truly successful at 
every level of competition. During high school, Notah led his high 
school basketball team to back-to-back state championships. But more 
impressive, he was the No. 2 junior golfer in the nation.
  After high school, Notah traveled west to Stanford University. 
Although Notah's teammate, Tiger Woods, is often spotlighted by the 
media, it was Notah and his Stanford teammates who won the 1994 NCAA 
Championship trophy, one year before Mr. Woods joined the team. Notah 
played an integral role by shooting a 62 in the second round of the 
Championship tournament, a tournament record that remains today. And 
while many great college athletes do not finish their studies, I am 
very proud to say that Notah is a fellow graduate of Stanford, earning 
a degree in economics.
  Notah turned pro after college and has been quickly rising in the PGA 
ranks. At the Nike Dominion Open this year he became only the third 
player in history to shoot a 59 on a U.S. pro tour. He joins Al 
Geiberger and Chip Beck as the only players to score such a feat. 
Because of his outstanding success this year, Notah is a candidate for 
top rookie honors.
  Notah has dedicated himself to providing new opportunities for young 
Native Americans. By working to raise money to establish golf programs 
at reservation schools and seeking donations of golf equipment for kids 
who could never afford the costly clubs, Notah is providing the tools 
that may lead to more great golfers with Native American roots.
  In some ways, Notah Begay's success is not surprising. He is half 
Navajo and half Pueblo Indian and he follows a tradition of courage and 
strength, exemplified by his grandfather. Notah's grandfather, Notah 
Begay I, was one of the famous Code Talkers during World War II. The 
Code Talkers relayed sensitive information for the United States 
military through a code based on the Navajo language. They proved to be 
a critical component of the military intelligence during World War II.
  Notah's unprecedented success has shown a generation of young 
Americans that with hard work and dedication, any dream is achievable. 
The success Notah has earned is equal only to the inspiration he 
provides for Native American youth in my home state of New Mexico and 
across the country. I commend him not only for his golf success, but 
also for his commitment to the youth of New Mexico.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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