[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 128 (Tuesday, November 14, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H8613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING BOB GOLDWATER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 31, 2006, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise this morning in remembrance of a 
great American and great Arizonan, Bob Goldwater. If the last name 
sounds familiar, it should. The brother of Arizona's favorite son, Bob 
Goldwater labored alongside his brother in the family business in 
Phoenix, Goldwater's Department Store, and Bob was his own unique 
contributor to his brother Barry's political success and to the 
continued success of Goldwater's Department Store.
  Bob Goldwater possessed a laconic wit. Madam Speaker, in my first 
campaign for public office, I was honored to have Bob Goldwater and 
former Governor Jack Williams, and the former Republican leader of this 
House, John J. Rhodes, cosponsor an event for me in the White Mountains 
of Arizona. This was at a time when I aspired to represent the Sixth 
Congressional District, an area in square mileage almost the size of 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and so to get from suburban Phoenix 
up to the White Mountains was quite an undertaking that was made a bit 
more difficult by an incredible thunderstorm because this was during 
what we call the monsoon season in the summertime in Arizona.
  The late great Governor Williams, a former broadcaster, was a 
stickler for time. The event was supposed to start at 7 p.m. I blew in 
the door at 7:05. There stood Governor Williams and Leader Rhodes and 
brother Goldwater. Governor Williams said, ``Hayworth, 7:00; it's 
7:05,'' to which Bob Goldwater replied, ``Oh, heck, keep your shirt on, 
Jack, booze isn't going to spoil.''
  At the memorial service for his brother Barry, Bob Goldwater spoke 
not only of Barry Goldwater, the public servant, but of Barry, his 
brother. He reminisced how both he and Barry played for their church in 
a youth basketball league and how Barry suggested that the jerseys they 
wore should bear the letter ``P.'' Bob recalled that he asked Barry 
why, and Barry responded, ``You know, Bob, P for `Piscopalian.'''
  Perhaps a function of age and time, but the passing of other 
noteworthy Arizonans would bring Bob Goldwater into the public eye and 
he, above all other Arizonans, could deliver a heartfelt, humorous, 
poetic and practical remembrance. I don't have those abilities here 
today, but I just felt compelled in a moment perhaps of personal 
indulgence but perhaps more accurately a moment of official reflection, 
to bring notice to the passing of Bob Goldwater, bring insight into the 
very human and humorous way he described others.
  And also, to make this note: To my knowledge, Bob Goldwater never ran 
for public office, although he hailed from an Arizona family synonymous 
with public service. A lesson that has been impressed upon me through 
the years and especially in recent days is this fact, that public 
service is not always defined by public office, that it is what a 
person does in his fellowship of faith, in his community, in his 
business that can distinguish that person, a good lesson to remember in 
these days, a lesson typified by the life and times of Bob Goldwater.
  Madam Speaker, those of us who knew Bob count ourselves not lucky but 
blessed to have a man who championed the success of his brother 
politically but added immeasurably to the lives of Arizonans in terms 
of commerce and public service, and as the father of our Phoenix Open.
  Rest in peace, Bob Goldwater, you won't be forgotten.

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