109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2491
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.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 3, 2006
Mr. CORNYN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
A BILL
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.
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), 2
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 2 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 equipment, but the
robot was eventually used for club and ball testing by the United States
Golf Association (USGA) and many other manufacturing companies.
(12) Byron Nelson mentored many golf hopefuls, including 1964 Player of
the Year Ken Venturi and 6-time PGA Player of the Year Tom Watson.
(13) Byron Nelson was one of the first golf analysts on network television
where his understanding of the game in general, and the golf swing in
particular, was demonstrably profound.
(14) Byron Nelson received the United States Golf Association's Bob Jones
Award for distinguished sportsmanship in golf in 1974.
(15) In 1974, the Golf Writers Association of America presented Byron
Nelson with the Richardson Award for consistently outstanding contributions
to golf.
(16) Since 1983, the Byron and Louise Nelson Golf Endowment Fund has provided
over $1,500,000 in endowment funds to Abilene Christian University in
Abilene, Texas.
(17) Byron Nelson received the PGA Distinguished Service Award in 1993.
This award is presented to an individual who has helped perpetuate the
ideals and values of the PGA.
(18) Byron Nelson has served as an honorary chairperson for the Metroport
Meals on Wheels since 1992.
(19) In 1994, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America presented
Byron Nelson with the Old Tom Morris Award for outstanding contributions
to the game.
(20) Byron Nelson helped to develop the Tournament Players Course (TPC)
Four Seasons at Los Colinas, Texas, site of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship
and the Byron Nelson Golf School, into a world-class facility.
(21) The EDS Byron Nelson Championship is the only PGA tour event named
in honor of a professional golfer and traditionally attracts the strongest
players in the sport.
(22) Since its inception, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship has raised
$88,000,000 for Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, a nonprofit
agency that provides education and mental health services for more than
2,700 children and their families in the greater Dallas area.
(23) In 2002, Byron Nelson received the prestigious Donald Ross Award
from the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) for his significant
contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture.
(24) The United States Golf Association presented Byron Nelson the Ike
Grainger Award for volunteer service to the game of golf in 2002.
(25) In 2002, the National Golf Foundation presented Byron Nelson with
the Graffis Award for outstanding lifelong contributions to the game of
golf.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized- The President pro tempore of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make appropriate arrangements
for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate
design to Byron Nelson in recognition of his significant contributions to
the game of golf as a player, a teacher, and a commentator.
(b) Design and Striking- For purposes of the presentation referred to in
subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred
to as the `Secretary') shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems,
devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal
struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations as the Secretary may
prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor,
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of
the gold medal.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals- The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items- For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States
Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic
items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority to Use Fund Amounts- There is authorized to be charged against
the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, such amounts as may be necessary
to pay for the costs of the medals struck pursuant to this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale- Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze
medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the United States
Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
END
