It’s been a quarter of a century since Payne Stewart died in a plane crash, but the effort to preserve his legacy continues.
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Twenty-five years ago this month, golf lost a legend and a family lost much more.
In the quarter century since then Payne Stewart’s death in a plane crash, his family – led by his wife Tracey, daughter Chelsea and son Aaron – have worked tirelessly to keep his memory alive. These efforts have spawned a charitable organization (the Payne Stewart Family Foundation); an annual honor (Payne Stewart Award); camps for children; various golf ventures and, most recently, the Payne Stewart Apparel Collection, designed to celebrate his shot fashion sense.
In this regard, there is much to celebrate.
As Stewart’s friend David Feherty has said, Stewart was a great player, but “his game was eclipsed by his style, flair and ability to fully embrace life”.
Whether or not they ever got a chance to see him compete in person, many fans have vivid memories of Stewart. He left an impression. Stories are legends. And to help preserve them, the Stewart family is inviting anyone who was inspired by him to share their memory of him on the Collection’s website in a ‘Fist Pump Memory Book’. Fans are also encouraged to post photos, videos and other memorabilia to their social media platforms and tag @PayneStewartCollection.
In return, the Payne Stewart Collection will randomly award $200 gift certificates to 25 recipients.
Throughout October, the Collection will also be offering a 25 percent discount on all online purchases. A portion of these sales will be donated to the Payne Stewart Family Foundation, which supports organizations that provide educational opportunities, sports programs and other related activities to underserved children.
Not forgotten in this month’s tributes are the names of those who lost their lives in Stewart’s flight on October 25, 1999: Robert Fraley, Van Ardan, Bruce Borland and pilots Michael Kling and Stephanie Bellegarrigue.
For more information on The Punch Pump Memory Book, visit paynestewartcollection.com.
