April 28, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2379 Let us not put off this problem sim- Her daughter’s love of horses led endary command, ‘‘Gentlemen, start your ply but let us take advantage of to- Mary Hulman to give $629,000 to endow engines.’’ It was a duty she assumed after day’s current positive economy, with the School of her husband’s death in 1977 and continued to more jobs and higher pay in many Equine studies at St. Mary-in-the- take seriously even after her health began to fail a few years back. cases, to create a Social Security pro- Woods College. She also donated Married to a millionaire businessman, Mrs. gram that preserves benefits for cur- $500,000 needed to repair the college’s Hulman had philanthropic resources in her rent retirees, and makes sure that fu- science building. own right as the granddaughter of Hermann ture retirees have even more savings Mary Hulman served on the develop- Fendrich, a German immigrant who founded when they retire. ment board of Wabash College and was LaFendrich Cigar Co. A patron of the arts, Mr. Speaker, let us do put Social Se- active in the Public Health Nursing As- Mrs. Hulman was a trustee of the Indianap- curity first. sociation of Terre Haute. She also olis Museum of Art and a member of the board of overseers of Terre Haute’s Swope f served on many agencies for the benefit Art Museum. of St. Anthony’s Hospital in Terre EXCHANGE OF SPECIAL ORDER Her financial contributions to museum, Haute. TIME church and higher education institutions She was the granddaughter of Her- were innumerable. Her faith and love of the Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask mann Fendrich, a German immigrant Catholic Church were unmistakable. unanimous consent to claim the time and the founder of the LaFendrich ‘‘Always gracious and unassuming, she of the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Cigar Company. Her father took over quietly provided assistance for the museum’s UNDERWOOD). the company and operated it until his ongoing programs and for projects she knew The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there death. would benefit the community and the state,’’ objection to the request of the gentle- noted Richard Wood, chairman of the board In 1926, Mary married of governors of the Museum of woman from Indiana? and lived in Terre Haute, where Tony There was no objection. Art. was a well-known and prosperous busi- Mrs. Hulman was an important figure in f nessman. Tony Hulman was the owner the racing world and remembered for her TRIBUTE TO MARY FENDRICH of the speedway for many years. To- hospitality to drivers and their families. In HULMAN gether he and Mary worked to keep the 1997, she was inducted into the Speedway the world’s premier Hall of Fame along with two-time Indy win- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a event in motor racing. ner Gordon Johncock. previous order of the House, the gentle- But her role in this community far exceed- Legendary racer A.J. Foyt said that woman from Indiana (Ms. CARSON) is ed just being the wife of a very famous man. the new generation of racers will never recognized for 5 minutes. Her commitment to community leaves a leg- Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise know the struggles and hardship of acy that rivals the motorsports legacy left today to pay tribute to a unique and Tony and Mary Hulman that they en- by her late husband. great American. Mary Hulman was dured to make the speedway an inter- f national success. The Hulmans had Chair of the board of directors of the WARNINGS OF A FAILED taken Foyt in and given him food and Indianapolis Motor Speedway when she DECENNIAL CENSUS a place to stay when he was a young died 2 weeks ago at the age of 93. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Most Americans would not recognize man down on his luck. Mary was DEAL of Georgia). Under a previous her, but they heard Mary Hulman’s known for her kindness to new racers order of the House, the gentleman from voice many times over the years at the coming up through the ranks. Florida (Mr. MILLER) is recognized for 5 Indianapolis 500 when she commanded Mary Hulman thought her husband minutes. the drivers ‘‘Gentlemen, start your en- had bought a pig in a poke when in 1945 Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, gines.’’ That may have been her high- he acquired the speedway. But later yesterday the Los Angeles Times ran a est-profile activity, but Mary Hulman she said, ‘‘I was wrong.’’ Last year story about a census in California. But was much more. Mary Hulman was inducted into the the story had nothing to do with the She was well-known for her generous Speedway Hall of Fame. Census 2000 dress rehearsal going on philanthropic public service, even St. Francis of Assisi said, ‘‘When now in Sacramento. It concerned a cen- though she contributed with little fan- there is charity and wisdom, there is sus conducted by the Los Angeles fare. She was a major benefactor and neither fear nor ignorance.’’ Mary County Department of Public Works, a board member of several organizations, Hulman spent her life dispelling fear census that counts bats. That is right, including Rose-Hulman Institute of and ignorance through her support of bats. On May 17, a team of biologists Technology, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods education and charity to the less fortu- and a couple of dozen volunteers will College, the Indianapolis Museum of nate. Mary Hulman set an example for try to count every bat living under- Art and Swope Art Museum in Terre Americans in selflessness and sacrifice. neath three wooden bridges in Topanga Haute. Ms. Hulman was steadfast in The world is truly a better place for Canyon in California. Let me quote her devotion to her Catholic faith and her 93 years of life. from the article: her support for Catholic charities. Mr. Speaker, I include the following The Indianapolis Star said in an edi- editorial from the Indianapolis Star on Census takers, who range in age from 7 to torial that Mary Hulman always exem- the life of Mary Hulman. 70, will each be assigned a section of a [From the Indianapolis Star, Apr. 14, 1998] bridge. With a Tally Wacker in hand, a click- plified Jesus’ teaching in the gospel of er used to count quickly with the thumb, A GENTLE LADY Matthew that giving should be done they will attempt to count the bats as they away from the blare of trumpets and Matthew’s Gospel counsels that charitable emerge from their roosts at dusk. Partici- the sight of men. She never sought rec- giving be done in quiet, away from the blare pants will ‘‘have to be in place, sitting very ognition for her charity work and al- of trumpets and the sight of men: ‘‘. . . let quietly before dusk, so they don’t disturb the ways looked for ways that she could do not thy left hand know what they right hand bats,’’ says biologist Rosi Dagit. Dagit says doeth.’’ more. bats are very sensitive to noise and won’t fly That advice characterized the generosity if they suspect they are being watched by b 1815 and spirit of , who humans. committed her life to worthwhile causes yet Mary Hulman was born into a managed to escape the spotlight that sur- The article concludes: ‘‘Census tak- wealthy family but she never acted as round one of Indiana’s richest and most ers will have to be fast.’’ though wealth was her birthright. She prominent families. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Sub- knew that much is expected from those The widow of longtime Speedway owner committee on the Census, I am tempt- who have received much. Over the Tony Hulman died Friday at age 93. A Mass ed here to start making jokes about years, Mary Hulman gave away much of Christian Burial will be at 12:05 p.m. today the batty census the Clinton Adminis- of her fortune. Her gifts included $3.5 in St. Benedict Catholic Church, Terre tration wants to conduct in the year Haute. million to the Indianapolis Museum of Although she shied away from publicity, 2000 using statistical sampling, but I Art and $2 million to Indiana State Mrs. Hulman couldn’t avoid the annual will refrain. I will just say that if we University for a student union com- minute of global fame that accompanied the can put that much effort into actually plex. start of the Indy 500 when she issued the leg- counting bats, I think it is a good