An all-around athlete, he played center on his Valley High School basketball team, was a pitcher and outfielder on the baseball team and a halfback during football season. He was a self-taught golfer, learning the game by playing with "clubs" he fashioned from tree limbs.

Got his start in the game as a caddie at The Homestead at age 7.

His wife, Audrey, died in 1990.

His nephew, J.C. Snead, is a long-time PGA TOUR and Champions Tour player.

Was named the fourth recipient of the PGA TOUR's Lifetime Achievement Award, given in 1998.

Was the author of two best-selling books, How to Play Golf (1946) and The Education of a Golfer (1962).

Appeared uncredited as himself in the 1951 movie "Follow the Sun" about the life of Ben Hogan and was also in the 1953 motion picture "The Caddy."