June 25–July 23, 1955. As told to Harry T. Paxton.
Before I was even out of grade school, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. My goal was to be the greatest athlete that ever lived. My dad helped to swing me in that direction. He’d tell us about the sports stars. I read the sports pages myself. Even then I was interested in the famous golfers.
When the 1928 Olympic Games came along, I heard and read so much about them that I got all steamed up. I said, “Next year I’m going to be in the Olympics myself.” Poppa explained to me that they were four years apart.