Title
Proclamation honoring Arnold Palmer on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Body
WHEREAS, Arnold Palmer, also known as “The King,” celebrates his 80th birthday and a long list of career achievements on September 10, 2009; and
WHEREAS, born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Mr. Palmer learned to play golf from his father, Deacon, and after leaving Western Pennsylvania, he honed these skills at Wake Forest University and as a member of the Coast Guard; and
WHEREAS, after winning the 1954 U.S. Amateur Championship, Mr. Palmer joined the Professional Golfers' Association in 1955, and became an instrumental trailblazer for the sport as his charisma, affability, incredible skill and “go for broke” style of play revolutionized the game of golf by making it a worldwide spectator sport; and
WHEREAS, during the course of his career, Mr. Palmer won 62 matches and seven major championships on the PGA Tour; he is a two-time PGA Player of the Year; was named “Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated and awarded the Hickok Belt as America's outstanding professional athlete in 1960; was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Palmer's magnetic persona made him television's first sports superstar and resulted in the explosion in popularity of televised sports which we all enjoy today; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Palmer's accomplishments on the course are surpassed only by his charitable and humanitarian efforts including, but not limited to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies and the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation; and
WHEREAS, his fame and accomplishments notwithstanding, Mr. Palmer never forgot his Western Pennsylvania roots and “Arnie's Army”, his legion of adoring fans; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Palmer is regarded as one of the greatest and most giving athletes in the history of the sport by not only those of us in Allegheny County and throughout Western Pennsylvania, but also ...
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