The man who won the Masters in 1973 thanked his friends and family for a night of tribute and remembrance; for retracing a golfing career to be featured at the Northeast Georgia History Center.
"This evening is right up there with one of the best things that happened to me," Aaron said. "There's nothing like being honored by your home town."
"It's important that you do something that separates you from the crowd, something that people will remember your name for", Aaron said of the sport of golf.
The capacity audience saw a video that profiles Aaron's career from Gainesville all the way to the Masters. That video is part of the History Center's Tommy Aaron exhibit.
The video recalls when Aaron first started playing in golf tournaments in the 1950s. The nine-hole golf course in Gainesville was disappearing under the rising waters of Lake Lanier, and the town was without a home course in which Aaron could play.
Now, not only is the area dotted with many championship courses, but Gainesville is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Aaron's classic victory at the world renowned Masters Golf Tournament with the permanent display and video.
Tommy Aaron
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/208498