[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 4390]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTION OF CHRIS LeDOUX TO COUNTRY MUSIC

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 81, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 81) recognizing the contribution of 
     Chris LeDoux to country music.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the life 
and memory of a great singer/songwriter, rodeo champion and true 
cowboy, Chris LeDoux. Sadly, Chris passed away on March 9 at the age of 
56 in Casper, WY.
  Chris was a loyal son, devoted husband and loving father. As a member 
of an air force family, Chris lived in many places throughout his 
childhood. He finally found his home in Wyoming while a sophomore in 
high school. In 1972, he married his lovely wife Peggy in Kaycee, WY, 
where he eventually built his ranch and fathered five wonderful 
children.
  Chris was a cowboy through and through. He began riding in junior 
rodeos when he was only 13. He tried his hand at several rodeo events, 
but before too long, it became apparent he was best on bareback broncs. 
After winning the Wyoming State High School Bareback Riding 
Championship and the National Intercollegiate Bareback Riding 
Championship, he joined the rodeo circuit full time. This choice 
brought many injuries and tough days on the road, but all his hard work 
paid off in December of 1976 when he won the world championship title 
for bareback bronc riding at the National Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma 
City.
  While on the rodeo circuit, Chris wrote songs about cowboys and the 
rodeo life he was leading. His songs were filled with both his love of 
music and his love of the West. In past interviews, Chris expressed 
that next to family, freedom was his most valued asset.
  Just as he cherished the freedom of his western life, Chris was 
adamant about his musical freedom. He was determined to produce music 
in his own way rather than be ``owned by a big company.'' By 1989, 
Chris had released 22 albums, mostly cassette tapes produced by his 
parents that he sold at concerts and rodeos. That same year, Garth 
Brooks had a hit with, ``Much Too Young,'' which included a line about 
``a worn-out tape of Chris LeDoux.'' Chris soon became the country star 
he was always meant to be.
  Chris LeDoux was not only a world class entertainer, he was a friend. 
My wife Susan fondly recalls his great love for his family and his warm 
smile. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and his loyal 
fans.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 81) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 81

       Whereas Chris LeDoux, a former rodeo world champion in 
     bareback riding and country music star, died on March 9, 
     2005;
       Whereas Chris LeDoux was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 
     1948;
       Whereas Chris LeDoux won the Wyoming State Rodeo 
     Championship in high school, continued riding in college, 
     earning a rodeo scholarship, and rode professionally, winning 
     the bareback championship at the National Rodeo Finals;
       Whereas Chris LeDoux made important contributions to the 
     country music community, through songs such as ``Whatcha 
     Gonna Do With a Cowboy'' and ``Much Too Young to Feel this 
     Damn Old'';
       Whereas Chris LeDoux worked with well-known artists 
     throughout his career, such as Garth Brooks and Charlie 
     Daniels: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the contribution of Chris LeDoux to country 
     music;
       (2) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret of the 
     death of Chris LeDoux; and
       (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate transmit enrolled 
     copies of this resolution to the House of Representatives and 
     the family of Chris LeDoux.

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