Class of 1981

Mary Ann Rathmell Morrison

Amateur Player

Biography

Born in New Orleans on September 24, 1932, Mary Ann Rathmell Morrison was a preeminent figure in women’s amateur golf in Texas from 1960 until the 1980s. Morrison, a member of Houston Country Club, won 23 of 27 Houston City Championships during that span. All but one of those titles were won at Memorial Park Golf Course, which led to the championship's tongue-in-cheek moniker of “the Morrison Benefit Tournament.”

Morrison dominated Houston Country Club play, too, winning all but four women’s titles from 1957-81, including a stretch of 13 straight beginning in 1969.

Competing as Mrs. John Rathmell, Mary Ann began her reign as queen of the Women’s Texas Golf Association Championship in 1957 as Medalist (73) at Abilene Country Club. She repeated as medalist in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, and 1972.

Mary Ann continued her dominance by earning medalist honors again in 1976 and 1981. The fact none of her WTGA titles were won on either her home course or even in her hometown of Houston makes her achievements even more noteworthy.

Mary Ann also won the WTGA Match Play tournament in 1961, 1966-69, 1971, 1977, and 1987. She also reached the finals in 1960 and 1964. In addition, she claimed the 1969 Southern Amateur title.

She won a lot!

Mary Ann also competed in the 1991 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in North Carolina.

In her “retirement,” she spent time at her and her husband’s ranch outside of Dubois, Wyoming, and at the Old Baldy Club in Saratoga, Wyoming, where she continued to compete at a high level. She captured the Wyoming State Championship four times, the Wyoming Mid-Amateur five times, and the Wyoming Senior Amateur six straight times. Mary Ann was a Texas Golf legend, regardless of the state in which she resided, all the way to her passing the day after Valentine's 2019.

Legacy Video

Teenage Queen

After immigrating to the United States as a young child, Albert Villegas took a job as a caddie at a then-brand new Winged Foot Golf Club in New York.

Years later, that caddie introduced his daughter, Mary Ann, to the game of golf at the age of 12. A quick study, just two years later she won the club championship in her hometown of New Orleans.

The victory was a harbinger of things to come, as Mary Ann continued to win and win and win for the next more than half century. Among the highlights was a triumph at the prestigious Southern Amateur in 1969.

The Big Easy

Mary Ann attended St. Mary’s Dominican College in New Orleans prior to women’s golf becoming a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) certified sport.

Regardless, she still played competitive college golf, winning the intercollegiate championship in Columbus, Ohio, in 1952. She also won the Mexican Amateur and the Louisiana Women’s State Amateur to earn the 1952 New Orleans Athlete of the Year honors.

Her first foray into Texas golf came prior to her college career, when she won the Trans-Mississippi Amateur played in Dallas, beating future pro Betty MacKinnon, at the age of 17.

Super Golfer, Super Mom

After moving to the Lone Star State in her early 20s, Mary Ann became the best women’s amateur golfer in Texas history.

The mother of four never turned pro, instead devoting her professional career to the job of raising her children. One memorable show of her true dedication to her children came after winning the City Championship at Memorial Park one year.

After the round, Mary Ann was scheduled to take photos with the trophy. However, she had to respectfully decline, telling the gathered media that she had school carpool pickup duty.

A Star in Space City

Incredibly, Mary Ann won the Texas Women’s Golf Association Championship nine times between 1961-81. In addition, the Houston Country Club member won 23 of 27 Houston City Championships and 24 Houston Country Club Women's Championships, including a streak of 13 in a row beginning in 1969.

The city championship was jokingly referred to as the “Morrison Benefit Tournament.” A key figure in the city’s golf scene, she was chosen to be the official scorekeeper for the legendary 1965 Wonderful World of Golf match between Ben Hogan and Sam Snead that took place in Houston.

Equally Dominant in Wyoming

Following her incredible run in Texas that extended through her 1981 Texas Women’s Amateur victory, Mary Ann moved to “The Equality State,” where she dominated Wyoming’s ranks just as she had in Louisiana and Texas previously.

The natural ball-striker won the Wyoming State Championship four times, Mid-Amateur five times and the Senior Amateur six times. Her last victory came at the age of 73 at the state’s 2006 Senior Amateur, her sixth straight crown.