Arnold Palmer becomes sixth athlete to be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal
After amassing countless accolades on the golf course during his storied career, Arnold Palmer joined a Mount Rushmore of American heroes, including George Washington and Neil Armstrong, when he was honored for his far-reaching lifetime contributions on Wednesday.
"He didn't set out to change the game. But he did. Arnold Palmer democratized golf. And made us think that we too could go out and play, and made us believe we could do anything really. All we had to do was go out and try," said Speaker of the House John Boehner, one of a number of politicians who helped honor Palmer in a cermony in the Rotunda of the Capitol building.
"You've struck our hearts and our minds, and today your government and fellow citizens are striking the Gold Medal for you."
Palmer became the sixth athlete to be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, "the highest honor that can be bestowed upon any living citizen," following the iconic Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates, track and field Olympic champion Jesse Owens, Brooklyn Dodger pioneer Jackie Robinson, boxing legend Joe Louis and fellow golfer Byron Nelson.
"It's interesting that two of the six [recipients of the honor] have been golfers," Palmer said in a short acceptance speech that capped the ceremony. "I like to truly believe that golfers promote some sort of human value that symbolizes so many Americans, such as characteristics of honesty, hard work, dedication, responsibility, and respect for the other guy."
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Jack Nicklaus, a competitor of Palmer's on the course and later in business and golf design, joined in honoring his close friend, with a heartfelt speech built around the theme of "the Arnold Palmer I'll never forget."
Nicklaus, in tears toward the end of the speech, recounted the now-famous first time he watched Palmer hit a ball at age 14, standing and watching in awe at Sylvania C.C. outside Toledo, Ohio as Palmer hit "piercing long irons into the rain," on the driving range before the 1954 Ohio Amateur Championship.
