[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO BYRON NELSON--AMERICAN GOLFER

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2006

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, ask 100 people on the street who is the best 
golfer in history, I bet a majority of them would reply ``Tiger 
Woods.'' Ask that same question to 100 professional golfers, and their 
answer would be ``Byron Nelson.''
  Byron Nelson was born February 4, 1912 in Waxahachie, Texas. He did 
not grow up with the ambition to ever be a professional golfer; he just 
enjoyed playing it in his spare time. The onslaught of the Great 
Depression, and his subsequent unemployment, led Nelson to 
professionally pursue golf in 1932.
  Known to golfers as the game's ``Ultimate Gentleman,'' Nelson 
impressed audiences and fellow players alike with his good nature, his 
graceful swing, and his ability to win. In 1937, Nelson won The 
Masters, his first major tournament win. He would go on to win four 
more major tournaments over the years: the 1939 U.S. Open, the 1940 and 
1945 PGA Championship, and the 1942 Masters. The accomplishment that he 
is the most well known for, however, did not come until 1945--13 years 
after he turned professional.
  As America was winning World War II, Byron Nelson was winning golf 
tournaments. In 1945, Nelson did the unimaginable, winning 11 
consecutive golf tournaments. By the end of 1945, Nelson had a won a 
record 18 total tournaments--a record that still remains intact today. 
The closest anyone has come to challenging Nelson's record was Tiger 
Woods, who impressively won 6 consecutive tournaments in 2001; however, 
failed to catch the record by five tournaments. His last professional 
tour ended in 1946, when at the age of 34, he decided to live the 
simple life of a rancher.
  Although Nelson had retired, his love and dedication for the game 
continued. For years later, he was a frequent ceremonial starter at The 
Masters tournament. Nelson was also always amazed at how the game of 
golf was evolving, from the ``rising new stars'' to the change in club 
material to the amounts of money involved. In a 1997 interview, Nelson 
stated, ``I did not even dream in my wildest imagination there would be 
as much money. . . . I only won $182,000 in my whole life.'' Mr. 
Speaker, nowadays winning a professional tournament yields millions of 
dollars, so one can understand Nelson's amazement at the winnings now.

  Bryon Nelson was the recipient of the 1974 Bob Jones Award for 
distinguished sportsmanship in golf. It is considered the highest honor 
awarded by the U.S. Golf Association. He has also been inducted into 
the World Golf Hall of Fame, and is the only professional golfer to 
have a stop on the PGA tour named after him--EDS Bryon Nelson 
Championship played in Dallas, Texas.
  Golf was not the only passion in Nelson's life. He was also a devout 
Christian, who gave his time, energy, and money to Abilene Christian 
University (ACU)--my alma mater. Nelson had a long family history with 
ACU. In his family lineage were the fourth and seventh Presidents of 
the University. Nelson's brother is currently a professor at ACU and 
his sister is an alumna.
  Nelson was a member of the University's Board of Trustees and 
National Development Council. In 1984 Nelson and his wife of 50 years, 
Louise, established the Byron and Louise Nelson Golf Endowment, to 
raise funds for ACU. A dinner was held in his honor and the results 
netted enough funding to permanently institute the men's golf program 
at ACU. Nelson also continued to lend not only his name, but his 
person, each year to ACU's Byron Nelson Golf Tournament. His dedication 
and devotion to ACU allowed the men's golf program to flourish, winning 
eight Lone Star Conference golf championships and one NCAA Division II 
championships.
  For 94 years, Bryon Nelson was a man among men, always a gentleman, 
always a leader, always a Christian. On Tuesday, September 26, this 
great man passed away at his home in Roanoke, Texas. Bryon Nelson is 
not only mourned throughout the professional golf community, but 
throughout Abilene Christian University, where he gave so much of 
himself and asked for nothing in return. So his life will be remembered 
by all, as a great person and a great golfer.

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