By Debert
Cook
Reprinted from the Winter/Spring 2012 edition
Pete Brown received his tour card in 1963 and became the First
African American to Win a PGA event, the Waco Turner Open (1964).
Overall he won 2 PGA victories and is a 4 time USG (Negro) National
Open Champion.
Brown
and his wife, Margaret, celebrated their 55th year wedding anniversary
this past April 29th and their love for one another is stronger
than ever. Yet, Pete (76) is in very poor health and the Dayton,
Ohio couple admits these are difficult times for them.
(Left: Pete Playing golf, circ. 2004)
Brown, a former head professional, spent 26 years
at Madden Golf Course--a public course in Dayton--where his junior
program boasted more than 200 youth and his jovial personality
attracted people in droves to its programs.
Upon retiring, Pete had no retirement and no health
insurance. He has endured a series of 10 strokes along with other
health-related issues over the last decade, and Margaret (72)
is also frequently hospitalized. During this time, they’ve
lost two of their six daughters, Sheila (2005) and Pamela (2009),
to cancer and due to medical costs lost their home. “This
predicament has greatly impacted our finances. Altogether, we
only have $1,200 coming in to live on and each month has been
a struggle,” relented Margaret.
However,
it seems like Pete and Margaret least won’t have to endure
the long, cold, Ohio winters much longer. Thanks to a helping
hand from legendary, PGA-pro golfer Jim Dent, the couple is preparing
to relocate to sunny Augusta, Georgia, where Dent has arranged
a beautiful home for them to say in as long as they like.
(Left: Pete and Margaret, circ. 2000)
“Pete is a great fellow and I am glad that
I can be of help. So, I offered him the house. I felt that if
this is what he wanted--then I had some place for them to come
to,” said 71-year-old Dent during a telephone interview.
Dent, an Augusta native, finished 1st on the Champions Tour 12
times and has owned a 4-acre property at Jones Creek for 10 years.
The Browns plan to move around mid-November into the 4 bedrooms,
3 baths, 1 car garage, single-floor plan home that sits right
next door to Dent’s residence. “The climate should
bring some relief to Pete, who also suffers from severe arthritis
and palsy in his hands,” said Margaret.
The
relocation paperwork has started and the Browns doctors are advising
Pete on how to move forward with his medical affairs, transferring
prescriptions, patient information, etc.
(Left: Pete wins San Diego Open, 1971)
“We have helped a lot of people over the years
and if those people would just pay us the money that they owe
us, at least we would have a little bit more,” said Margaret.
“We deeply appreciate what Jim is doing for us and I still
can hardly believe it. Just out of nowhere, Jim offered us the
house.”
Pete and Margaret love hearing from old friends
and new to keep up on what’s going on in the world of golf.
They are looking forward to getting settled into life in Augusta
and say they can be reach at (937) 476-9378.
More News....
Ginger
Howard Joins AAGD Blogger Team
Golfer
Of The Week Series Launched
Mayors
Support National Black Golf Month
Tiger
Woods Stats
| The
African American Golfer's Digest
is a 100% black-owned publication
(Est. March 2003)
80 Wall Street
| Suite 720 | New York, NY 10005
Debert C. Cook, CMP
Publisher
Telephone: (212) 571-6559
Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is prohibited.
African American Golfer's Digest, Inc. ©
All rights reserved.
|

A PGA of America
Diverse Supplier |
|