Springville's Billy Casper was recently named recipient of the 2010 PGA Distinguished Service Award.
Casper won 51 PGA Tour titles during his long career, which started in 1956, and remains the all-time leading point winner in U.S. Ryder Cup history. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 and the PGA Golf Hall of Fame in 1982. He will be honored Aug. 11 in Kohler, Wis., in conjuction with the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
In 1992, Casper began the Billy Casper Youth Foundation, or "Billy's Kids," of which beneficiaries include Primary Children's Medical Center and the Boys and Girl Scouts of America;
"So much can be done to improve the understanding of young people and how they conduct their lives," said Casper. "I think that enjoying what you do is so important. You have to remember that what you do in golf has the ability to touch people wherever you go."
Casper is currently writing a book, "The Magnificent Fourth," that he said is not a testament to being overshadowed by contemporaries like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.
First aid
A pair of former Ogden Raptors were credited with a save of a different kind a couple of weeks ago.
According to the L.A. Dodgers, second baseman Rafael Ynoa and right-handed pitcher Elisaul Pimental were driving to a doubleheader for Class A Great Lakes when a motorcycle in front of them hit a turkey in the road and crashed.
Ynoa, Pimental and others helped administer first aid to the motorcyclist until an ambulance arrived. The victim has reportedly survived and come out of a coma.
Ynoa is batting .300 this season, while Pimental is 2-2 with a 3.52 ERA in six starts. Both players -- who were with the Raptors in 2009 -- are from Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Hero hoops
The Hoops for Heroes 3-on-3 basketball tournament -- held in honor of Cpl. Michael Pursel -- will be next Friday and Saturday at Hooper City Park. Pursel was killed in action on May 6, 2007, in Baqubah, Iraq. Proceeds will be donated in his name to the Hooper Freedom Memorial Fund. Register at www.eteamz.com/hoopsforheroes or call (801) 985-1245 or 425-9133.
Tidbits
ProRodeo Hall of Fame stock contractor Cotton Rosser was released from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital May 5 after four days of treatment for injuries suffered in a horse-related accident while on the Rancheros Visitadores ride near Santa Ynez, Calif. Rosser, 81, sustained four broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung and three cracked vertebrae in the accident. ...
More than 10,000 schoolkids were guests of the Salt Lake Bees at Prevention Dimensions Kids Day on Tuesday when the Bees hosted Albuquerque at Spring Mobile Ballpark. ...
Speaking of the Raptors, team president Dave Baggott says they still need a few more host families. If interested, call the Raptors (801) 393-2400. ...
Justo Sanchez (12-25, 10 KOs) of Howell lost a welterweight fight to unbeaten Dave Byrne last week in Santa Ynez, Calif. ... The Wasatch Figure Skating Club's spring show is today at The Ice Sheet. The performance begins at 7 p.m. Featured skater is Jozaf Sabovcik, an Olympic bronze medalist and two-time European champion.
Chris J. Miller is sports editor for the Standard-Examiner. He can be reached at (801) 625-4261 or cmiller@standard.net.
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