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RIP – Arnold Daniel Palmer

RIP - Arnold Daniel Palmer

Arnold Daniel Palmer was an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in professional golf history. He won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955. Nicknamed “The King”, he was one of golf’s most popular stars and its most important trailblazer, because he was the first superstar of the sport’s television age, which began in the 1950s.

Lived: Sep 10, 1929 – Sep 25, 2016 (age 87)
Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
Education: Wake Forest University

Highlights

  • 1954: His win in the 1954 U.S. Amateur made him decide to try the pro tour for a while, and he and new bride Winifred Walzer (whom he had met at a Pennsylvania tournament) traveled the circuit for 1955.

  • 1954: Arnold Palmer married Winifred Walzer in 1954; their marriage lasted 45 years till November 20, 1999.

  • 1955: He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955.

  • 1967: He built up a wide fan base, often referred to as “Arnie’s Army”, and in 1967 he became the first man to reach one million dollars in career earnings on the PGA Tour.

  • 1999: A Golfer’s Life written by Arnold Palmer was first published in 1999.

  • 2001: One of Palmer’s most recent products (mass-produced starting in 2001) is a branded use of the beverage known as the Arnold Palmer, which combines sweet iced tea with lemonade.

RIP – Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.)

Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.)

Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer, generally considered among the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport. Early in his career, Ali was known for being a controversial and polarizing figure both inside and outside the boxing ring. He was one of the most recognized sports figures of the past 100 years, crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated and “Sports Personality of the Century” by the BBC. He also wrote several best-selling books about his career, including The Greatest: My Own Story and The Soul of a Butterfly.