[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 10329]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF TONY GWYNN

  (Mrs. DAVIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, there has never been any 
question that Tony Gwynn was a great hitter, but probably the second 
most talked about aspect of Tony Gwynn was his laugh.
  On Monday, we lost a great leader both on and off the field. Tony 
Gwynn passed away--surrounded by family--at age 54. We lost that great 
laugh.
  Tony was described as a person who, after spending a few minutes with 
him, you felt better than you did before. Part of it was his laugh. He 
displayed that in playing baseball, as a teacher, and in his charitable 
work with his wife, Alicia. There was a special quality about him.
  Tony turned down lucrative offers, offers that others might have 
picked up, but he turned those down to remain a San Diego Padre, and in 
this time of sports trades, that is a big deal.
  It was not surprising that, after his playing days, he returned to 
his alma mater, San Diego State University, to teach and coach Aztec 
baseball--to be a mentor.
  One of his students plays not too far from this Chamber at Nationals 
Park. Pitcher Stephen Strasburg played for Tony, who he described as a 
father figure.
  Tony Gwynn leaves a lasting impact in San Diego. His loss is being 
felt throughout the community. We see that in the collective grief and 
celebration of his life.

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