Vernon Lee Echols
March 6, 1927 – December 6, 2019
Echols was one of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. James and Leola Echols of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a long-time resident of Englewood, NJ, before retiring to Daytona Beach, FL. In 1998, Echols founded The L.O.V.E. (Little Ole’ Vernon Echols) Golftech Tournament, as a way to give back to his community. With a long history of civic engagement and sports enthusiasm, the charity tournament was held annually at the LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach. and attracted thousands of players over its many years.
Alfred “Rabbit” Dyer
March 9, 1937 – November 11, 2019
During the era when black caddies ruled the Tour fairways, Dyer was one of those legends. He began caddying at age 9 at Metairie Country Club in New Orleans and went on to caddy for Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Dave Stockton, and Lee Trevino before being hired by Gary Player in 1972. One of the first prominent Black caddies on the PGA Tour, Dyer caddied for World Golf Hall of Famer Player for 20 years. In 1974, Dyer was the first Black man to caddie in the Open Championship. Though he wasn’t well-received, that week, Dyer managed to help guide Player to his third Open Championship win at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Dyer was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame in 2000 and he also wrote a Pro Caddie blog called “The Looper Line” for the African American Golfer’s Digest.
Alton Duhon
January 5, 1925 – November 4, 2019
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana (some say with a golf club in his hand) it was not until 1953 that Alton discovered golf to be the all-consuming passion of his life. By 1954, he was playing and competing in Championship flights throughout Southern and Northern California. In 1982 he won the Senior Amateur Championship and became the second Black ever to win a USGA Championship. Duhon enjoyed teaching the game to others and he was a fixture at South Los Angeles Chester Washington Golf Course.
Mackray “Mack” Champ
June 5, 1941 – October, 21, 2019
Champ passed away in Sacramento, CA at the age of 78. The beloved grandfather of two-time PGA Tour winner Cameron Champ introduced his grandson to the sport of golf and was a devoted supporter of his professional career. Born in Columbus, TX, Mack attended Booker T. Washington High School and graduated in 1959. He then joined the United States Air Force later that year. In 1961 he received orders to Bremerhaven, Germany, followed by others including Vietnam War (1970-1971). After retiring from USAF, he went on to work as a civilian with the federal government until his retirement in 2002, where he enjoyed his family, taking care of his garden, fishing and helping individuals with disabilities play golf.
George Washington Carver “Chuck” Thorpe
January 23, 1943 – May 1, 2019
Thorpe, a former professional golfer and member of the PGA Tour, passed away at Hock Family Pavilion in Durham, North Carolina following a brief illness. He was a native of Person County, North Carolina, and the son of the late Elbert Thorpe, Sr. and the Late Vivian Hughes Thorpe. A great golfer, and brother of PGA Champions Tour player Jim Thorpe, Chuck was a long-hitter who won many tournaments.
Buddy Cooper
August 29, 1957 – March 11, 2018
Cooper lost his battle with cancer early Sunday morning, March 11, 2018 in New York. The former Electronics Engineer attended Morehouse College and served as the Director of Instruction over 9 years at the Bronx Golf Center (Bronx, New York) and enjoyed more than 20-years as a golf professional, starting in the business in Philadelphia, PA at Cobb’s Creek Golf Club. A former PGA of America member, teaching at both the Fairview Golf Center (Elmsford, NY) and at Marine Park Golf Course (Brooklyn, NY), he was Head Professional at the historic Freeway Golf Course (Sicklerville, NJ.), the first 18-hole venue owned and operated by African Americans in the U.S. His stellar credentials included running his own enterprise, Buddy Cooper Golf and serving as an instructor at the prestigious Jim McLean Golf Academy at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Buddy Cooper article & bio here
View obituary here
John Edward Granger, Sr.
October 26, 1944 – February 20, 2019
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, John graduated from West Charlotte High School Class of 1962 and then attended NC A&T where he was a proud Aggie and a state quarterback. He was an all-around sportsman, however, nothing replaced his love for football and golf, where he achieved the rare feat of two “hole in one” on the course. He was also a member of the Par Busters Golf Club serving as the Social Chairman.
Read more detailed obituaries online at https://www.africanamericangolfersdigest.com/category/obituaries/
