[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16266]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE BOB STUMP

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2003

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleagues as we pay 
tribute to our friend, Bob Stump of Arizona. I was deeply saddened to 
learn of his passing last weekend. I join my colleagues in extending 
our deepest sympathy to Bob's wife, Nancy, his children, and his entire 
family.
  Bob Stump was my first friend in Congress. Almost 26 years ago, two 
newly-elected Members of Congress sat down next to each other at an 
organizational caucus for the 95th Congress, and formed a friendship 
that has endured and grown through the years. You have to understand 
that when we met, Bob Stump and I thought we were pretty important. 
After all, we had both served in the State Legislatures of Arizona and 
Missouri--as Senators. But we both adjusted and came to love the House 
of Representatives.
  It should be no surprise that I liked Bob from the first time I met 
him. I could tell immediately that he was a person of character and 
integrity. He was a true son of the old Southwest:

     Strong, yet gentle.
     Tough, yet compassionate.
     Fiercely independent, yet unfailingly loyal.

  He was born in Phoenix in 1927, just 15 years after Arizona joined 
the Union as the 48th State. He was only 16 when he demonstrated the 
love of country and the patriotism that would characterize his life in 
public service. He left high school to join the Navy in 1943, and 
before his 20th birthday, he had served in combat in World War II. It 
was no doubt during this time that Bob acquired his life-long respect 
for the men and women who serve our Nation in uniform. This respect 
became a commitment, and the commitment became the hallmark of Bob's 
service here in Congress. As Chairman of both the Armed Services 
Committee and the Veterans Committee, he worked tirelessly on behalf of 
our men and women in uniform and our veterans.
  No one has done more to ensure that our military and their families 
have decent pay and benefits, the best equipment and training, and 
quality housing and facilities. No one has done more to ensure that our 
Nation honors its commitments to its veterans.
  Only last October, Bob's portrait was unveiled at the Armed Services 
Committee and placed up on the wall where it belongs--among the other 
great leaders who have chaired the Committee through the years. I feel 
blessed that I had the opportunity to work closely with Bob during the 
past two years in my role as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services 
Committee. As Chairman, he was respectful of others, fair, and 
honorable. Knowing him as I do, I would have expected no less. On most 
issues which Congress has faced over these many years, we agreed. On 
those rare occasions where we did not agree, our disagreement never got 
in the way of our friendship, and for that I am grateful.

                          ____________________