[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3489]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JUAN ANTONIO ``CHI-CHI'' RODRIGUEZ 
        IN PROFESSIONAL GOLF AND HIS WORK ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2008

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the 
introduction of my bill, a Resolution Recognizing the Accomplishments 
of Juan Antonio ``Chi-Chi'' Rodriguez in Professional Golf and His Work 
on Behalf of Children.
  The bipartisan resolution I introduce today, congratulates and 
recognizes Juan Antonio ``Chi-Chi'' Rodriguez for his continued success 
on and off of the golf course, for his generosity and devotion to 
charity, and for his exemplary dedication to the intellectual and moral 
growth of thousands of low income and disadvantaged youth in our 
country.
  Madam Speaker, sports figures, through their perseverance, 
discipline, and good behavior, can serve as examples of excellence, 
dedication and devotion to our youth.
  Chi-Chi Rodriguez was born in Rio Piedras, PR, on October 23, 1935, 
and rose from the most humble of circumstances as the fifth of six 
children of an agricultural laborer and a housekeeper. These hardships 
did not harden him, but motivated him to become a great sportsman, 
humanitarian and role model.
  Chi-Chi joined the ranks of golf professionals at the age of 24, 
reportedly standing at 5'7'' and weighing 117 pounds and has had a 
stellar career in the sport of golf, earning an impressive record of 38 
professional wins, including 8 PGA Tour wins and 22 Senior PGA Tour 
wins. His Senior PGA Tour records for most consecutive victories, at 
four, and most consecutive birdies, at eight, still stand.
  In 1979, Chi-Chi Rodriguez helped create the Chi-Chi Rodriguez Youth 
Foundation, and the Chi-Chi Rodriguez Academy in Clearwater, FL, which 
have collectively raised more than $4 million to help thousands of low-
income and disadvantaged youth reach their life potential through 
educational opportunities and support programs, including a public 
partnership school, a community service program, a nine-hole golf 
course and others, which has been recognized by receiving the 1986 
National Golf Foundation Award for best Youth Program in the United 
States, becoming the 758th President Bush's Point of Light, and 
receiving the Robie Award for Humanitarianism presented by the Jackie 
Robinson Foundation, among others.
  His devotion to others knows no bounds. In addition to all he already 
does, he also joined with the FBI Agents Association to lead the Chi-
Chi Rodriguez G-Man Desert Shootout Tournament devoted to raising funds 
for College scholarships for the children of FBI agents killed in the 
line of duty.
  In 1989, the United States Golf Association, founded in 1894, granted 
Chi-Chi Rodriguez its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in 
recognition for his distinguished sportsmanship in golf and in 1994, 
Chi-Chi was inducted to the first class of the World Sports 
Humanitarian Hall of Fame for ``world class athletic ability,'' for 
being ``a role model in his community'' and for having ``a strong 
record of humanitarian efforts.''
  In 1992, Chi-Chi Rodriguez was inducted to the World Golf Hall of 
Fame, ``Golf highest honor'' and in 1973, he was a member of the U.S. 
Team that won the Ryder Cup in Muirfield, Scotland.
  Chi-Chi Rodriguez has received countless other distinguished awards 
and recognitions such as the 1974 Charlie Bartlett Award of the Golf 
Writers Association, the 1981 Richardson Award of the Golf Writers 
Association of America, the 1982 Father of the Year Award, the 1986 
Card Walker Award (Outstanding Contribution to Junior Golf), the 1986 
Salvation Army Gold Crest Award, the 12th Roberto Clemente Cup (1986), 
the 1986 Byron Nelson Award, the 1986 Hispanic Achievement Recognition 
Award, the 1987 Byron Nelson Award, the 1987 Senior Tour Arnold Palmer 
Award, the 1988 Fred Raphael Golf Achievement Award, the 1989 Old Tom 
Morris Award, the 1990 ``Caring for Kids'' Award, the 1991 Jackie 
Robinson Humanitarian Award, the 1993 Civilian Meritorious Service 
Medal presented by the Department of Defense, the 1997 International 
Network of Golf Award, the 1998 Ford Achievement Award, and the 2003 
Paul Runyan Memorial Recognition Award, among others.
  He is also a published author who has authored and co-authored 
several books and articles about golf, such as Chi Chi's Secrets of 
Power Golf in 1967, Everybody's Golf Book in 1975, Chi Chi's Power 
Pack, in 1982, Every Golfer's Guide to Lower Scores by Chi-Chi 
Rodriguez, in 1990, and Chi Chi's Golf Games You Gotta Play, in 2003, 
among others.
  He is very proud of his philosophy on life, which can be summarized 
by his personal expressions ``For me, satisfaction comes from knowing 
that I was put on this planet to leave it better . . . .'' and ``A man 
never stands taller than when he stoops to help a child.''
  Please join me in recognizing that Chi-Chi Rodriguez embodies the 
spirit of generosity and humanism of his fellow Puerto Rican, Roberto 
Clemente and that as a native of Puerto Rico, Chi-Chi has proven to be 
an important role model and source of pride for all Puerto Ricans, as 
well as all Latin Americans and all immigrants to the U.S. from across 
the globe.
  My resolution congratulates and commends Chi-Chi Rodriguez: (1) for 
his successes in golf in the United States and throughout the world; 
(2) for his exemplary conduct as a private citizen; (3) for a life 
devoted to service to others, in particular, for his help to low income 
and underprivileged youth, and to the children of FBI agents killed in 
the line of duty; and (4) in gratitude for his service as a role model 
and an inspiration for our youth, the people of Puerto Rico, and the 
United States.
  Madam Speaker, let me conclude with this. One of the great honors of 
the Members of this House is to recognize our fellow citizens who stand 
out as exceptional individuals.
  It is my great honor to present this legislation for consideration in 
the House of Representatives with the hope that the example of Chi-Chi 
Rodriguez can be known across our Nation and that he may serve as a 
role model for us all.

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