As the 50th anniversary of Tommy Aaron’s Masters golf tournament victory approaches, the Gainesville City Board of Education approved a golf suite to be named in his honor.
The board unanimously approved the naming of the golf suite at Gainesville High School during their meeting Monday night. Tommy Aaron graduated from Gainesville High in 1955 and went on to win the 1973 Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Aaron also won the Georgia high school golf championship in 1955, along with three Georiga Open Amateur tournaments.
Aaron won the Southeastern Conference trophy while playing for the University of Florida in both 1957 and 1958. He later earned the “professional” title in 1961.
Superintendent Jeremy Williams presented the resolution to the board, commenting on the value Aaron has brought to the Gainesville community.
“I believe it is just coming up here next week that we'll be recognizing Mr. Aaron, but also the contributions he's made, not only to golfing but in our community as well,” Williams said. “If you have a child who participates in golf and you're out at the Chattahoochee golf course, you know that his name is prominent out there in that area.”
Aaron is credited as being a vital contributor to the success of the City of Gainesville and went on to marry a GHS graduate. He and his wife sent both of their kids through GHS as well.
The Tommy Aaron Golf Suite at Gainesville High School is located in the Student Activities Center, housing both girls' and boys' golf teams.
