Horton Smith (1908 - 1963)

Born 22 May 1908 in Springfield, Greene, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Died 15 Oct 1963 at age 55 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

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Biography

Horton Smith is Notable.

Horton Smith was an American professional golfer, best known as the winner of the first and third Masters Tournaments.

Horton was born in 1908. He was the son of Perry Smith and Anna Kershner. He passed away in 1963.

Horton became a professional golfer in 1926, and subsequently went on to capture a long series of professional crowns, including the inaugural Masters Tournament in 1934. He was also the winner of the third Masters Tournament in 1936, as well as a five-time member of the United States Ryder Cup Team. He was elected president of the PGA in 1955, 1956, and 1957. In 1958 he was elected to the PGA's Hall of Fame.

During World Wat II, Horton served in the special services division of the U.S. Army Air Forces, coordinating athletics. He was discharged as a captain.

Horton died of Hodgkin's disease 15 Oct 1963 in Detroit, Michigan, he was 55 years old. He had lost a lung to cancer six years earlier. Horton is buried in his hometown of Springfield, Missouri. He was the first of the Masters champions to pass away.

Horton's wins in 1934 and 1936 in the Masters bracketed a win in 1935 by Eugenio Sarazen (1902-1999). The 1937 was Byron Nelson Jr.

Sources

• 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1920; Census Place: Campbell, Greene, Missouri; Roll: T625_915; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 22
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #78323816.

• 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1930; Census Place: Springfield, Greene, Missouri; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0005; FHL microfilm: 2340923
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #6912198.

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #8270462 (accessed 19 March 2024)
  Memorial page for Horton Smith (22 May 1908-15 Oct 1963), citing Springfield National Cemetery, Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, USA (plot: Plot 30 0 2100A); Maintained by Find a Grave.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horton_Smith