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Farewell: Paying Tribute To Those We Lost In 2012

By Cliff Schrock Photos by Dom Furore
December 19, 2012
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Contributors All: The golf community lost individuals who impacted the game in many ways, from (left to right) hands-on instructor Jim Flick, player/mentor Ramon Sota (AP) and popular official Doug Brecht (AP).

__ EDWARD BACON JR.__

A course-rating committeeman for the Metropolitan Golf Association. At age 81, March 27.

__ BOB BABBISH__

The 1935 Michigan Amateur and 1938 Western Amateur champion is in the Michigan Golf and University of Detroit halls of fame. At 96, Jan. 24.

__ ROGER BARRY__

A versatile sportswriter for the Quincy (Mass.) Patriot Ledger, he won several writing and lifetime awards as its golf editor and was president of the Golf Writers Association of America from 1969 to 1971. At 92, Jan. 22.

__ DOUGLAS BILLIAN__

Owner of Golf World from 1978 to 1988. At 84, Sept. 15.

__ FURMAN BISHER__

The legendary Atlanta-Journal Constitution columnist was as regular at the Masters as the azaleas, covering the tournament for 62 years (1950-2011) and writing the book, The Masters, Augusta Revisited: An Intimate View. At 93, March 18.

__ DOUG BRECHT__

The former collegiate player and coach became an LPGA Tour rules official in 1993, earning wide respect and admiration for his character. At 62, Oct. 12.

__ ARNIE BURDICK__

Media relations director for 27 years at the PGA Tour event on Hilton Head Island. At 92, June 5.

__ CARTER CHEVES__

The North Carolina native ran the American Golf Association for senior events and created the Joe Cheves Jr. Invitational. Full name was Joseph Monroe Carter Cheves. At 56, April 11.

__ GEOFFREY CORNISH__

Prodigious course architect also wrote the definitive architectural history book, The Golf Course, with Golf Digest Architecture Editor Ron Whitten. At 97, Feb. 10.

__ DR. WILLIAM (BILL) DICKEY__

The PGA Tour, PGA of America and USGA honored the insurance and real-estate executive for his work in diversifying golf and improving minority involvement. At 84, Oct. 16.

__ BARBARA DOUGLAS__

The IBM executive was the USGA's first minority Women's Committee chair was also president of the National Minority Golf Foundation. At 69, Jan. 27.

__ ROGER DUNN__

The golf-retail business changed forever when the first of his chain of off-course discount stores opened in 1978 in Santa Ana, Calif. At 81, Aug. 28.

__ JOHN ENGLISH__

The Boston-area sportswriter was USGA assistant executive director under the legendary Joseph C. Dey from 1949 to 1959. At 101, March 6.

__ MIKE FETCHICK__

The three-time PGA Tour winner still reigns as the oldest Champions Tour winner (age 63) when he won the Hilton Head Seniors International in 1985. At 89, March 8.

__ JIM FLICK__

A World Golf Teachers Hall of Famer, he roomed with Arnold Palmer in college, taught Jack Nicklaus in his senior years and was a Golf Digest stalwart on the page and at its schools, teaching the grass-roots player. At 82, Nov. 5.

__ MARIA FLOYD__

Steely-eyed husband Raymond only had eyes for her, and his career benefited; she helped organize the PGA Tour Wives Association. At 69, Sept. 7.

__ DR. C. REED FUNK__

A one-time faculty member at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station who was instrumental in turfgrass breeding. At 84, Oct. 4.

__ NADINE MARIE GASCH-CYBYSKE__

Her work as a team leader to implement golf course rating in coastal North Carolina was part of her behind-the-scenes work with the Sea Trail Ladies Golf Association and the North Grand Strand (NC) Inter-Club Golf Group. At 61, May 17.

__ CAMPBELL (SONNY) GRANT__

Carolinas competitor won the 1967 North Carolina Am. At 83, May 21.

__ LOIS HAINS__

Golf Digest associate editor who chronicled the rare feats and on-course games of the common golfer. She was an organizing force behind the magazine's Annual Record Book and Almanac product. At 79, May 21.

__ JIM HANNY__

Coached Cal State-Stanislaus from 1966-2008, during which the Division III school won 12 NCAA titles. At 86, May 28.

__ EDWARD HARBERT II__

Executive producer of New York Times television productions in the 1980s. At 88, April 8.

__ JOHN HARBOTTLE III__

Golf course architect who was lauded for his attention to environmental concerns. At 53, May 24.

__ VANCE HEAFNER__

Son of seven-time PGA Tour winner and two-time U.S. Open runnerup Clayton Heafner, Vance moved from a standout amateur and college career to the PGA Tour. He won the 1981 Walt Disney World National Team title with Mike Holland. He later was director of golf at Prestonwood C.C., Cary, N.C. At 58, Sept. 26.

__ JIM HUBER__

Emmy-winning sportscaster with TNT who excelled at essays and who wrote a book on Tom Watson's run at the 2009 Open Championship. At 67, Jan. 2.

__ CHARLES (CHICK) HUNTER__

Longtime golf participant in Carolina Golf Association events. At 77, Oct. 10.

__ DON JOHNSON__

President/CEO of the Western Golf Association and the Evans Scholars from 1988 to 2009. At 77, May 24.

__ TOM KERN__

A founding member of the Indiana Golf Course Owners Association who received its 2011 Outstanding Contributor Award, which has since been renamed in his honor. At 72, Oct. 12.

__ GLEN LASSITER SR.__

Piggly Wiggly grocery executive founded the Riverside Golf Club in Robbins, N.C. At 76, Jan. 4.

__ EMIL LAUTER__

For 50 years ran the Skokie, Ill., Pro Shop World of Golf; in the 1990s the shop did $8 million in business annually. At 89, April 9.

__ JACK MAHAFFEY__

A former USGA executive committee member and president of the Pennsylvania Golf Association, he was a member at Oakmont, where he was general chairman for the 1962 and 1973 U.S. Opens, and the 1969 U.S. Amateur. At 95, Dec. 7.

__ ROBERT DALE MORGAN__

Was Vice President/Championship Management for the PGA Tour in the early 2000s. At 50, Jan. 29.

__ AL MOTTAU__

A member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association for more than 30 years. At 85, April 28.

__ LEROY NEIMAN__

A popular impressionistic artist, mainly in the sports realm, Neiman did three art themes for Golf Digest pieces in the mid-1970s. At 91, June 20.

__ ROBIN NELSON__

Golf course architect in the design firm of Nelson & Haworth; he did extensive new and remodeled designs in Hawaii and eastern Asia. At 61, Nov. 19.

__ STEVE NOSLER__

Stepped down in 2006 after 14 seasons and three NCAA appearances as Oregon men's coach; Casey Martin followed him. At 74, July 6.

__ JOHNNY OWENS__

The accountant was hailed as Kentucky's greatest amateur, but his game could travel: He won the 1984 British Senior Am. He co-founded the Society of Seniors in 1983. At 85, Oct. 7.

__ RUSSELL PELTON__

The town justice and Winged Foot member was a longtime Metropolitan Golf Association rules official. At 97, June 21.

__ JAY PETERSEN__

Served as the educational director of the New Jersey State Golf Association Scholarship Program for 37 years. At 77, April 26.

__ PGA PROS__

These club pros were PGA members for 50-plus years: Paul Allen (age 82), Jack Bell (83), Jim Brass (81), Bill Brunsman (93), Ross Carley (80), Brien Charter (85), Paul Falls (91), Leon Faucett (84), Tom Foree (93), Victor Giron (75), Ted Graygor (82), John Heller (80), Dan Herring (88), Charles F. Lewis Jr. (94), Errol Marshburn Jr. (87), William Mattson (77), Joseph Mazur (84), Joe Mihelich (96), Chesney (Chet) Munson (91), Bill Nary (96), Stanley Parsons (93), William Polumbo (95), Boots Porterfield (84), Bob Schuh (78), Dean Shortridge (87), Joseph Sodd (89), Gene Sullivan (82), Bob J. Thomas (79), Ken Tucker (99, see separate listing), Ray Vennewitz (83), Joe Walser (79, see separate listing), Danny Williams (89).

__ DOROTHY GERMAIN PORTER__

Five-time USGA champion also ruled women's golf in her native Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. At 88, July 20.

__ FRAN QUINN SR.__

The patriarch of a talented golf family, he won several New England championships. At 74, Jan. 2.

__ WALTER (YIPPY) RANKIN__

Through marriage to LPGA great Judy Rankin, he was a goodwill ambassador for the women's tour. At 71, Feb. 24.

__ DON REED__

Led the Long Beach State golf program (and future tour star Mark O'Meara) from 1975 to 1980. At 92, April 9.

__ NAT ROSASCO__

The owner of Chicago's Northwestern Golf Company, which his father started in 1929. At one time the company was the leading seller of clubs in the industry. He was inducted in the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. At 83, Nov. 1.

__ EDWARD SCHNEIDER__

Metropolitan Golf Association Executive Committee member from 1978 to 1986. At 92, Jan. 31.

__ CHARLES (BILL) SESSUMS __

Golf course superintendent for 43 years, including at Pinewild C.C. and Duke University Golf Club. At 75, March 16.

__ TOM SIMON__

Coached Michigan's golf teams from the mid-1970s to 1982; in his youth he caddied under Byron Nelson when Lord Byron was the Inverness Club pro. At 83, July 28.

__ THOMAS (SMITTY) SMITH__

The National Black Golf Hall of Fame member was a golf shop owner/operator in Atlanta. At 88, March 29.

__ RAMON SOTA__

An uncle/mentor to Seve Ballesteros, the Spaniard had skill, too, winning five national opens in Europe. At 74, Aug. 28.

__ SCOTT STEELE__

Popular pro tour caddie carried for Larry Mize at the 1987 Masters and of late worked for Kirk Triplett on the Champions Tour. At 55, Oct. 19.

__ JAMES D. SYKES__

Led the Golf Association of Philadelphia from 1975 to 2000. At 78, Oct. 21.

__ TREVOR TIMES__

The Jamestown (Va.) High School senior golfer had committed to East Carolina but drowned in James City's College Creek. At 18, May 28.

__ KEN TUCKER__

74-year PGA member was club-pro icon in Pacific Northwest. At 99, March 20.

__ SUE TURNER__

Popular leader of international teams, she had been manager of the Great Britain & Ireland side in the 2012 Curtis Cup. At 50, Feb. 14.

__ MARCEL WAGNER __

MGA Tournament Committee member who also served on the New Jersey Seniors Golf Association membership committee. At 74, Jan. 12.

__ COLLEEN WALKER__

LPGA Tour player who won the 1997 du Maurier Classic and eight other tour events. Her success came in brief stretches of dominant play. Her du Maurier victory came 10 months after giving birth to her son. At 56, Dec. 11.

__ JOE WALSER JR.__

An accomplished golfer in his youth in Oklahoma, he culminated a great management career as vice chairman of Landmark Golf. At 79, May 10.

__ JESSE WHITTENTON__

A former NFL player under Vince Lombardi, he became a PGA member in 1985 and played senior tour events. At 78, May 21.

__ ANDY WILLIAMS__

Popular celebrity host of the San Diego PGA Tour event from 1968 to 1988. At 84, Sept. 25.

__ PHYLLIS (PHYL) WYLIE__

The oldest surviving Curtis Cup player, she had played for Great Britain & Ireland in 1938. At 101, Oct. 3.

__ STANLEY ZONTEK__

Director of the USGA's Green Section Mid-Atlantic Region, he had first joined the association in 1971. At 63, Aug. 28.