[109th Congress Public Law 357]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[DOCID: f:publ357.109]
[[Page 2043]]
BYRON NELSON CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT
[[Page 120 STAT. 2044]]
Public Law 109-357
109th Congress
An Act
To award a Congressional gold medal to Byron Nelson in recognition of
his significant contributions to the game of golf as a player, a
teacher, and a commentator. <<NOTE: Oct. 16, 2006 - [H.R. 4902]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Byron Nelson
Congressional Gold Medal Act. 31 USC 5111 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Byron Nelson Congressional Gold Medal
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Byron Nelson was a top player in the sport of golf
during the World War II era and his accomplishments as a player,
a teacher, and commentator are renowned.
(2) Byron Nelson won 54 career victories, including a record
11 in a row in 1945, during his short 13-year career.
(3) Byron Nelson won 5 majors, including 2 Masters (1937 and
1942), two Professional Golf Association (PGA) Championships
(1940 and 1945) and the U.S. Open (1939).
(4) Sports journalist Bill Nichols recently ranked the
greatest seasons on the PGA tour for The Dallas Morning News and
picked Roanoke, Texas-resident Byron Nelson's 1945 tour as the
greatest season of golf in American history.
(5) In 1945, Byron Nelson accumulated 18 total victories, 11
of which were consecutive, while averaging 68.33 strokes per
round for 30 tournaments.
(6) At the Seattle Open in 1945, Byron Nelson shot a record
62 for 18 holes and the world record 259, 29 shots under par for
72 holes.
(7) Byron Nelson is one of only two golfers to be named
``Male Athlete of the Year'' twice by the Associated Press: in
1944, when he won 7 tournaments and averaged 69.67 strokes for
85 rounds, and again after his 1945 season.
(8) The World Golf Hall of Fame honored Byron Nelson in 2004
by featuring an exhibit entitled ``Byron Nelson: A Champion . .
. A Gentleman''.
(9) Byron Nelson was selected for the Ryder Cup 4 times--in
1937, 1939, 1947 and 1965, and on that last occasion he led the
United States Ryder Cup team as team captain to victory over
Great Britain.
(10) Byron Nelson was also a pioneer in the golf business,
helping to develop the golf shoes and umbrellas used today.
(11) In 1966, True Temper created the ``Iron Byron'' robot
to replicate Byron Nelson's swing in order to test the company's
[[Page 120 STAT. 2045]]
equipment, but the robot was eventually used for club and ball
testing by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and many
other manufacturing companies.
(12) Byron Nelson mentored many golf hopefuls, including
1964 Player of the Year Ken Venturi and 6-time PGA Player of the
Year Tom Watson.
(13) Byron Nelson was one of the first golf analysts on
network television where his understanding of the game in
general, and the golf swing in particular, was demonstrably
profound.
(14) Byron Nelson received the United States Golf
Association's Bob Jones Award for distinguished sportsmanship in
golf in 1974.
(15) In 1974, the Golf Writers Association of America
presented Byron Nelson with the Richardson Award for
consistently outstanding contributions to golf.
(16) Since 1983, the Byron and Louise Nelson Golf Endowment
Fund has provided over $1,500,000 in endowment funds to Abilene
Christian University in Abilene, Texas.
(17) Byron Nelson received the PGA Distinguished Service
Award in 1993. This award is presented to an individual who has
helped perpetuate the ideals and values of the PGA.
(18) Byron Nelson has served as an honorary chairperson for
the Metroport Meals on Wheels since 1992.
(19) In 1994, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of
America presented Byron Nelson with the Old Tom Morris Award for
outstanding contributions to the game.
(20) Byron Nelson helped to develop the Tournament Players
Course (TPC) Four Seasons at Los Colinas, Texas, site of the EDS
Byron Nelson Championship and the Byron Nelson Golf School, into
a world-class facility.
(21) The EDS Byron Nelson Championship is the only PGA tour
event named in honor of a professional golfer and traditionally
attracts the strongest players in the sport.
(22) Since its inception, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship
has raised $88,000,000 for Salesmanship Club Youth and Family
Centers, a nonprofit agency that provides education and mental
health services for more than 2,700 children and their families
in the greater Dallas area.
(23) In 2002, Byron Nelson received the prestigious Donald
Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects
(ASGCA) for his significant contribution to the game of golf and
the profession of golf course architecture.
(24) The United States Golf Association presented Byron
Nelson the Ike Grainger Award for volunteer service to the game
of golf in 2002.
(25) In 2002, the National Golf Foundation presented Byron
Nelson with the Graffis Award for outstanding lifelong
contributions to the game of golf.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the
Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to Byron Nelson in
recognition of his significant contributions to the game of golf as a
player, a teacher, and a commentator.
[[Page 120 STAT. 2046]]
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this
Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the
Secretary.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations as the
Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31,
United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered
to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority to Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
pursuant to this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Approved October 16, 2006.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4902:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 152 (2006):
May 9, considered and passed House.
Sept. 29, considered and passed Senate.
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