Harry Radix introduced two trophies to recognize excellence in golf. The Radix Cup in the foreground is up for grabs each year when the best professionals and amateurs in Illinois battle it out. The Radix Trophy in the background goes to the PGA professional who finishes with the lowest stroke average of the year. Both trophies resided in 2011 at the Chicago District Golf Association.
Members of the 1953 Ryder Cup team arrive at the London Airport. Pictured are (l-r) Lloyd Mangrum, Cary Middlecoff, Ed (Porky) Oliver, Sam Snead, Jim Turness, Jack Burke, Walter Burkomo, Ted Kroll, Harry E. Radix, Joe Jemsek, Roy O’Brien and Fred Corcoran.
“He gave something to his car mechanic, to his doorman.”
Radix also helped put many members of his
family through college, as well as a few skaters, Parker said. Months before his death, U.S. Figure Skat- ing established an honorary membership in U.S. Figure Skating’s Executive Committee, where it included Radix for his “long and faithful service.”
A GOLFING AFICIONADO,
RADIX TREASURED HIS PLACE AMONG WORLD’S BEST
Radix’s love for figure skating was matched
only by his passion for golf. Branded as the sport’s No. 1 fan, Radix attended every PGA Champi- onship and U.S. Open from 1920 to 1965. He owned Masters badge No. 1. Known affection- ately in golf circles as “Uncle Krausie,” Radix died just hours after witnessing his 45th consecu- tive PGA Championship in Ligonier, Pa. His long list of golfing pals included legends
such as Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Tommy Ar- mour and Walter Hagen. One of Radix’s closest friends was Hogan, who won nine major titles and is regarded as one of the sport’s greatest players. Radix followed “Te Hawk” from hole to hole at major events, including Hogan’s only British Open triumph at Carnoustie, Scotland, in 1953, according to the Chicago Tribune. In November 1953 in Detroit, Radix accepted the PGA’s Player of the Year Award on behalf of Hogan, who had other commitments. Radix routinely brought Hogan and other stars of the day to Chicago for exhibitions at the Ridgemoor Country Club.
As he did with the skating champions of the same time, Radix informally gave fine cus- tom jewelry such as cuff links and tie clasps to his golfing friends as tokens of friendship and ap- preciation for excellence on the golf course.
“He would give Bobby Jones [who dominated the sport from 1923 to 1930] a pair of cuff- links, and he would have the matching pair that we now have, that are in the shape of a golf tee and golf ball, with gold and diamonds on them,” Parker said. “He would give identical things to his friends; cuff links were his big thing.” One of Radix’s golfing acquaintances in the
Chicago area, Ray Anderson, said Radix had his own awards system. “He gave you a piece of jewelry when he
thought you did something remarkable,” Ander- son said in a 1992 Chicago Tribune story. “Tey were beautiful and you had to look awfully hard to see his initials on them. “He was a neat guy. He felt very fortunate.
Life had been good to him. He really gave the game a lot, and I can’t think of anything he got out of it.”
While Radix enjoyed countless days watch- ing his friends play some of the finest courses in the world, he helped guide the sport behind the scenes. He was president of the Chicago District
Golf Association (CDGA), president of the his- toric Ridgemoor Country Club, a member of the Oak Park Country Club, secretary of the spon- sors’ advisory committee of the PGA and an ad- viser to the Evans Scholar Trustees and Western Golf Association.
As with the skating pins, Radix is probably
best known and remembered for a couple of re- vered trophies that he introduced to recognize excellence in the professional and amateur ranks. “Mr. Radix learned how players felt about the need for permanent records, the importance of official statistics and the sentiment that some recognition ought to be accorded to the golfer with the lowest stroke average for the season,” CDGA President Jerry Maatman wrote in 2000. Based on locker room discussions, Radix
originated the perpetual Radix Trophy in 1934, which honors the professional with the lowest of- ficial scoring average during a calendar year. Un- der the authorization of the PGA but paid for out of his own pocket, Radix presented the inaugural trophy in 1934 to Ky Laffoon, who edged Paul Runyan by a fraction of one stroke. Te players and fans immediately embraced the competition, and the idea of the scoring tro- phy gained traction. Newspaper stories regularly ran the Radix Cup standings. However, in 1937, golfing politics inter-
fered. A feud between PGA president George R. Jacobus and PGA tournament chairman Rob- ert E. Harlow ensued. Te Radix Trophy was dropped, reportedly because Radix was consid- ered outside the PGA administration, and Radix and Harlow were known to be close friends. Te PGA decided to rename the scoring prize the Vardon Trophy in honor of Harry Vardon, the great English golfer who at the time was near his death.
A man of high standards, Radix stayed out of the public feud by awarding the Radix Trophy behind the scenes. When Radix died, the CDGA became the trophy’s guardian and continued the tradition. Each year, the Radix Trophy is pre- sented by the CDGA just prior to the start of the Evans Scholar Pro-Am during the Western Open (now BMW Open). Inscribed on the trophy are the names of the
winners from 1934 to 1964. From 1965 to the present, the names are inscribed on the base of the trophy. In 1962, Radix created the Radix Cup com-
petition exclusively for Illinois golfers. It pits the best amateur golfers against the best professional golfers in a team best-ball competition. It remains one of the most prestigious events on the Illinois golf schedule. Te event celebrated its 50th year in 2011. Veteran amateur Joel Hirsch called it the
premier event in Chicago-area golf, with brag- ging rights and the Radix Cup on the line. “It’s a lot of fun, but more importantly, it’s
a great honor to be selected to play,” Hirsch was quoted in a Chicago Tribune article.
When Radix died, he left a bequest in his
will as well as funds for the event to be continued. Te funds eventually ran out, but the CDGA and Illinois Section PGA continue to honor this rich tradition.
Tough he has been gone for nearly 50
years, Harry Radix, through his abiding generos- ity, has left a legacy that touches both the golf and skating communities to this day.
SKATING 23
PHOTO BY WILLIAM VANDERSON/FOX PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES
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