IN MEMORIAM: WACJ Remembers
BOB
HOPE, THE IMMORTAL (1903-2003)
In later years his itinerary
included the South Pacific.
Bob began what was to become
a Christmas custom in 1948. He, with wife Dolores, went to Germany at the
request of then Secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington, to entertain the
troops involved in the Berlin Airlift.
With the end of the Vietnam
conflict in sight, Hope hailed his 1972 trip as his "last Christmas show." But
each Christmas that followed, he was somewhere in the country doing a show at
a military base or veterans hospital.
In 1983 the call came from
Beirut and Hope was "on the road again." In 1987, Hope flew around the world
to entertain servicemen and women in the Pacific. Atlantic and Indian Oceans
and in the Persian Gulf.
He embarked on a goodwill
tour in May, 1990 to entertain military personnel stationed in England,
Russia, and Germany. At Christmas that year, he and wife Dolores, were in
Saudi Arabia entertaining the men and women of "Operation Desert Storm."
1994 was a good year
for Bob. His "Bob Hope: The First 90 Years," produced by daughter Linda Hope,
won an Emmy. And he returned to his native England for a personal appearance
tour in June, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.1996
marked the publication of Bob's collection of Presidential humor called "Dear
Prez, I Wanna Tell Ya", and in November, he aired his 296th television special
for NBC, Bob Hope Laughing with the Presidents." The show featured appearances
by President and Mrs. Clinton, President and Mrs. Bush, President and Mrs.
Ford, Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower. Bob's co-host was Tony Danza.
May 1997, New Orleans - Bob
stood by as Dolores christened the USNS Bob Hope (AKR 300), the first of a new
class of ships named after Bob. Not to be outdone, one month later the US Air
Force dedicated a new C-17 in his name. (In 2001, the C-17 the 'Spirit of Bob
Hope,' transported the pilots and crew of the reconnaissance plane downed in
China back safe and sound to Hawaii.). Five times
Bob has been honored by the United States Congress. But, in October 1997, Bob
received one of his greatest tributes when Resolution 75 was unanimously
passed by members of both houses making him an Honorary Veteran - the first
individual so honored in the history of the United States. He was feted in the
US Capitol Rotunda by members of congress, military personnel and veterans.
The next day, Bob, family and friends were guests in the oval office for the
signing of the resolution by President Clinton
Bob's next visit to
Washington, D.C. was in May 2000 when he officially opened the Bob Hope
Gallery of American Entertainment at the Library of Congress. In July 2001,
the 'Pentagon' (US Army Adjutant General Corps) paid a visit to Bob Hope's
home in Toluca Lake, California for the presentation of the Order of Horatio
Gates Gold Medal for his life-long contributions toward maintaining the high
morale of soldiers around the world. And on his 99th birthday, May 29, 2002;
The Chapel at the Los Angeles National Cemetery was named The Bob Hope
Veterans Chapel.
Golf
Bob
is the ultimate sport fan. A boxer, a pool hustler, he also once owned part of
the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Rams ("Both before they learned how
to play their game" he says.) He loves football. On television, it was his
tradition to introduce the AP All American Football Team on his Christmas
special each year.) And it is always a treat for him to visit or watch his
'now' favorite team, The San Diego Chargers. BUT, golf is his game. He is an
avid golfer and has been quoted as saying "Golf is my profession. I tell jokes
to pay my green fees."
Bob is one of the foremost
proponents of the game and has contributed immensely to the popularity of golf
- as a participant, a spectator and as an author. His book, "Confessions of a
Hooker," which spotlights the memorable moments of his more than fifty years
of golfing, was on the New York Times 'best seller' list for 53 weeks. In
prominent spots in his trophy room are: the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf
Course Superintendents Association, the Golf Writer's Gold Tee Award and a PGA
medal honoring him as "one of the three men who have done the most for golf."
Most evident is a silver cup from Sports Illustrated commemorating his fifth
hole-in-one fired at Butler National Golf Course in Oak Brook, Illinois. Since
then he has added two more holes-in-one to his record at courses in Palm
Springs. Enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame is a bas relief of his
profile with a plaque that reads, "BOB HOPE - known by his nose, applauded for
his humor, envied for his wit and loved by millions for his unselfish concern
for all beings, Bob Hope is truly one-of-a-kind. He popularized golf to the
unknowing, sponsored it for charity and played it for fun.
Not a golf champion but a
great champion of golf."
Probably
his greatest achievement in golf is the development and hosting of the Bob
Hope/Chrysler Classic, a pro-am tournament held annually in Palm Springs,
California. Now in its 44th year, the Classic draws the most famous pros and
celebrity amateurs. A total charity effort, the Classic has raised over 35
million dollars for the Eisenhower Medical Center and 70 other deserving
desert charities.
End of the article.
