Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/2075

 120 STAT. 2044

PUBLIC LAW 109–357—OCT. 16, 2006

Public Law 109–357 109th Congress An Act Oct. 16, 2006 [H.R. 4902] Byron Nelson Congressional Gold Medal Act. 31 USC 5111 note.

To award a Congressional gold medal to Byron Nelson in recognition of his significant contributions to the game of golf as a player, a teacher, and a commentator.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Byron Nelson Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows: (1) Byron Nelson was a top player in the sport of golf during the World War II era and his accomplishments as a player, a teacher, and commentator are renowned. (2) Byron Nelson won 54 career victories, including a record 11 in a row in 1945, during his short 13-year career. (3) Byron Nelson won 5 majors, including 2 Masters (1937 and 1942), two Professional Golf Association (PGA) Championships (1940 and 1945) and the U.S. Open (1939). (4) Sports journalist Bill Nichols recently ranked the greatest seasons on the PGA tour for The Dallas Morning News and picked Roanoke, Texas-resident Byron Nelson’s 1945 tour as the greatest season of golf in American history. (5) In 1945, Byron Nelson accumulated 18 total victories, 11 of which were consecutive, while averaging 68.33 strokes per round for 30 tournaments. (6) At the Seattle Open in 1945, Byron Nelson shot a record 62 for 18 holes and the world record 259, 29 shots under par for 72 holes. (7) Byron Nelson is one of only two golfers to be named ‘‘Male Athlete of the Year’’ twice by the Associated Press: in 1944, when he won 7 tournaments and averaged 69.67 strokes for 85 rounds, and again after his 1945 season. (8) The World Golf Hall of Fame honored Byron Nelson in 2004 by featuring an exhibit entitled ‘‘Byron Nelson: A Champion. . . A Gentleman’’. (9) Byron Nelson was selected for the Ryder Cup 4 times— in 1937, 1939, 1947 and 1965, and on that last occasion he led the United States Ryder Cup team as team captain to victory over Great Britain. (10) Byron Nelson was also a pioneer in the golf business, helping to develop the golf shoes and umbrellas used today. (11) In 1966, True Temper created the ‘‘Iron Byron’’ robot to replicate Byron Nelson’s swing in order to test the company’s

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