In the days prior to our entry into WWII the members of the Augusta National Golf Club amused themselves by watching a "battle royal". This was a fist fight by 6 blind-folded black men with the last man (I am sure "boy" to them) was awarded by the spectators throwing coins at him. One fight was arranged in the dining room of the Bon-Air Hotel. This article was written, I am sure, to tell the story of "Beau Jack", a black shoeshine "boy" at the club, who was supported by $ 2500 from members to compete for the boxing world's lightweight championship. After a record of 25 to 2 he won the title of lightweight champion of the world in 1942. In entered the army in 1944 and fought a match that raised $ 35 million in war bonds, which is "still the richest gate in boxing history". Both fighters donated what they might have made to the war effort. He ended his days at a hotel in Miami shining shoes. There is no evidence at Augusta National that Beau Jack got his start at the club. (I would think that members of the club would be embarassed by this story).
(Source: "The Shining Star" by Kevin Cook. Golf Magazine April 2009)
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