Henry Ransom grew up in the Houston suburb of Harrisburg and caddied as a boy at “old” Houston Country Club. He and pal Jimmy Demaret knocked around Galveston as youths, and Henry worked as a dancer in a comic adagio act for extra money. Although Ransom only weighed 140 pounds at the time, he also boxed professionally under the name of “Hammerin’ Henry.” He had a record of six wins in eight matches but when he learned he must leave Houston to find boxing’s big money he quit the ring in favor of staying close to his widowed mother.

Ransom eventually turned pro in 1932. His golf swing was a personal creation – something “put together” by watching and mimicking good players, improving on their techniques if possible. Following a stint in the Navy during World War II, Ransom won 12 events, seven of them official PGA Tour tournaments. He captured the Texas PGA and Texas Open in 1941, the Texas PGA again in 1956, and the Texas Senior PGA in 1961. In 1951, Ransom played on the victorious Ryder Cup team, which allowed the British a mere 2 ½ points in competition.

Ransom was also well known for coaching the Texas A&M golf team from 1960-72 where he teams won six Southwest Conference titles, including four in a row. Ransom also taught players such as Bobby Nichols, Dave Hill and Frank Stranahan.

Birthplace: Houston, Texas

Born: February 25, 1911

Died: December 21, 1987