“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;”>The
St. Louis
“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;”>sports community lost a legend last week with the passing of golf pioneer Booker Ford. He was 86.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Ford’s spectacular career in golf spanned seven decades. He was a talented player who won many tournaments and won lots and lots of money over the years while playing around the country.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>However, Ford’s talent as a player was just a small part of the huge impact that he made in the St. Louis community for African-American golfers. If you are and were a black golfer in St. Louis, you knew Booker Ford, you were connected to Booker Ford and you were impacted by Booker Ford in some way shape of form. Not only was he a great player, but he was a teacher, a mentor, a pioneer, an ambassador and a friend to so many people.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Booker Ford never knew a stranger. His charisma and engaging personality enabled him to make friends all over the country. He was just as comfortable with the everyday man as he was with celebrities such as Joe Louis, Marvin Gaye, President Gerald Ford, Bob Hope, Sidney Poitier, Lee Elder and so many more.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I had the honor of meeting Mr. Ford at a couple of special events over the years and it was indeed a wonderful experience. After just five minutes of conversation, I felt like I was speaking to someone I had known for my entire life. He was just so warm and friendly; and he loved to tell stories.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Ford brought countless African Americans to the sport as he broke the barriers for blacks to play on the course at Forest Park. He taught so many others how to play the game as he continued to give golf lessons to people up until the last few months of his life.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Ford was born in St. Louis, but moved to Oxford, Miss. at a young age. He returned to St. Louis in the 1940s after serving a stint in the Navy. Upon his return he met a man named Ted Rhodes from Nashville, who introduced Ford to golf.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>After picking up the sport for the first time, Ford became a regular player at the Forest Park Course, which was segregated until the mid-1950s. Up until then, Ford and the other black players could only play at certain times. When their time on the course was up, a bell behind the 13th tee would ring to signal all black players to leave the course.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Just recently, Ford and local golf historian Jim Healey created an exhibit at the Forest Park golf shop to honor black players. The exhibit is called “The bell will ring no more.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Booker Ford was a special man who will never be forgotten. “font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Show-Me Bowl on TV
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Fox Sports-Midwest will be televising all six state-championship games from Show-Me Bowl weekend at the Edward Jones Dome. St. Louis viewers can watch the games on Charter (Channel 3,8 or 21), AT&T U-verse (Channel 750) or DirecTV (Channel 675). Friday’s games will be Class 2 (Lamar vs. Lafayette Co. at 1 p.m.), Class 4 (MICDS vs. Webb City at 4:15 p.m.) and Class 6 (CBC vs. Blue Springs South at 7:30 p.m.). Saturday’s games will be Class 1 (Valle vs. South Shelby at noon), Class 3 (John Burroughs vs. Logan-Rogersville at 3:15 p.m.) and Class 5 (Kirkwood vs. Staley at 6:30 p.m.). “font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Bro in law Robin “font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I would like to give a special shout-out to my brother-in-law, Robin Thompson, who is the defensive line coach at MICDS. The Rams (14-0) will play Webb City for the Class 4 state title on Friday. Robin has his boys playing with a lot of fire and brimstone during the playoffs. Good luck, boys.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Bills 3-0
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The Saint Louis Billikens have opened the men’s basketball season at 3-0. SLU enjoyed an impressive early-season victory in defeated highly-regarded Washington 77-64 last Sunday. The Bills are playing some very good basketball. They will open play in the Anaheim 76 Classic in California today against Boston College.
