We welcome Shelby, North Carolina's Frank Beam to our SGA Hall of Fame. Frank was inducted at the SGA Desert Classic this February in Palm Desert, California.  

In the beginning, Frank took up golf for one main reason: he is left-handed.  When he was 27 years old, his brother, who also is a lefty, decided to start playing right-handed.  Frank was in service at the time, and started playing with his brother's clubs.  Although he now carries a fine handicap of five strokes, he has never had a formal lesson.

Frank's first job was at General Motors.  He then worked for Lowe's Companies for 41 years, moving up in the company to Senior Vice-President of Operations. 

He has had 12 holes-in-one in his career. He has played in many celebrity tournaments, including several times in the Crosby.  One celebrity he particularly remembers and "hung out with" is Glen Campbell.  Campbell was ranked in the Top 15 of celebrity golfers by Golf Digest.  The two were partners for three consecutive years.  Another of Frank's favorite celebrity partners was Pro Football legend Johnny Unitas.

Frank has played in 23 tournaments with Senior Golfers of America.  His favorite is Linville Golf Club in the mountains of North Carolina.  "It's a challenging golf course and very, very beautiful," he comments. "I love the relaxing atmosphere at Linville."

Frank met his wife Mary "on the court square" in his hometown of Shelby.  They have been married for 53 years and have one son and one daughter. Both children enjoy golf.  Frank and Mary's two granddaughters are college students, one at Furman University and one at the University of South Carolina.  The girls prefer tennis to golf!

In addition to his skill at golf, Frank is also a top-notch gardener.  He was encouraged by fellow Hall of Fame member Dave Watts to try the new variety of roses, "Knock Outs." After filling his own garden with the beautiful, fragrant Knock Outs, he has now moved on to his children's gardens, planting the colorful and hardy bushes for them "whether they need them or not."

Bob Tillman, fellow SGA member, recounts that he and Frank met 50 years ago at a Lowe's managers meeting in Charlotte.  They became friends from playing golf that week. "I knew he was a great player, and that he lives for the competition. I have known him for 50 years, and he has been competitive for 50 years."  Bob continues, "Frank was a great store manager, and a great Company Vice-President.  If Frank Beam says something, he lives by it.  Everyone who ever has met Frank remembers him."

Frank and his wife Mary met in high school.  They went to different schools.  Frank played all sports, and, according to Mary, "He was mean to our boys, and I didn't like him. Later, I stopped listening to those boys and started listening to Frank."

When Frank took up golf, he talked Mary into playing also.  She enjoyed the sport and adds, "Frank bought me a lot of golf outfits."  Mary has in recent years given up her golf clubs and clothes and since joining SGA has become a part of the "SGA FOGS" -- "Friends of Golfers."  She enjoys the luncheons, shopping trips at the various resorts and has made many friends through SGA. "We have enjoyed every one of the 23 trips we have been on with the Senior Golfers," she says.  She agrees with Frank that her favorite place of all is Eseeola  Lodge.

Dave Watts, who was inducted into the SGA Hall of Fame in 2009,  says of Frank, "He's a great guy and always considerate of anyone he plays with.  No matter how badly we play, he's always nice, and you can tell he means it.  That's why I like him so much."

The Senior Golfers of America is proud to welcome Frank Beam as the 2011 member of our SGA Hall of Fame.