Letters: Palmer, Fernandez much more than sports stars
ISSUE | SPORTS HEROES Arnold Palmer 'a true gentleman' Hearing of the death of golf legend Arnold Palmer at age 87 made me think of his connection to Philadelphia (" 'The King' and his charisma brought golf to the masses," Monday). Most people may not remember, but Arnold Palmer sweaters were famous in the 1950s and '60s, made by local manufacturer Robert Bruce Knitwear. They sold millions of these golf sweaters.
ISSUE | SPORTS HEROES
Arnold Palmer 'a true gentleman'
Hearing of the death of golf legend Arnold Palmer at age 87 made me think of his connection to Philadelphia (" 'The King' and his charisma brought golf to the masses," Monday). Most people may not remember, but Arnold Palmer sweaters were famous in the 1950s and '60s, made by local manufacturer Robert Bruce Knitwear. They sold millions of these golf sweaters.
In addition, I have fond memories of Arnold because he played golf at the former Ashbourne Country Club, where my family were members.
I first met him when I was about 17, when Toll Bros. decided to build its first golf-course community, Blue Bell Country Club, in Montgomery County, in the 1980s. We hired him to be the designer. He went on to design a number of other golf-course communities around the country for us.
Arnold was always a true gentleman when he came to play golf at the grand openings of our communities. He spoke to all attendees as though they were old friends. I will never forget him.
|Bruce Toll, Horsham, brucetoll@tollbrothersinc.com
Cuban star embodied American Dream
The unfortunate climate in our country is one in which the welcome mat is shrinking for immigrants, including those who come here legally. It is my hope that the tragic, untimely, and heartbreaking death of 24-year-old Miami Marlins pitching ace Jose Fernandez and his inspiring story will cause us to reevaluate where our country is heading ("Marlins' Fernandez killed in boat crash," Monday).
Fernandez succeeded on his third attempt to immigrate to the United States, risking his life on each occasion that he boarded a boat to travel here from Cuba. As a teenager, he was imprisoned after failed attempts to leave the dictatorship, and he became a hero at age 15, when he rescued his mother from drowning after she fell overboard.
Fernandez and his family are prime examples of what our nation has traditionally represented and what is printed on the Statue of Liberty.
His passing - ironically, in a boating accident - has brought together fans of all baseball teams and people of goodwill everywhere. His death will not be in vain if it helps us to recognize that we must remain a melting pot, the free country that extends a helping hand and opportunity to those who wish to seize it. May God bless the family and friends of Jose Fernandez, and may his memory always be a blessing.
|Oren M. Spiegler, Upper St. Clair, Pa.