Evening star., 1940-06-11
BY WALTER McCALLUM,

oSASaoAiA SOCo a 4C1lOW lCdNC lOWll
for good with more than the usual
pat on the back and the friendly
admonition: We'll, good luck, fell
low Particularly among the golf
fraternity, who generally are not
given to gushy sentiment.
George P. James, new passenger
traffic manager of one of the impor-
tant Southern railroads, happens to
be the kind of fellow who cannot
leave town without something un-
usual happening Not for the fact
that George served 20-year
stretch as chairman of the Golf
Committee at Columbia. Or that
he licked Walter J. Travis back in
1914, or that he had been the MAIN
stay of all the golf activities at the
club up to four years ago, when he
resigned as chairman. But because
George himself-James, the man
had won place in the hearts of all
who met him, he stands today in
unique position, honored by couple
of hundred hardboiled gents who
have seen the best of them come
and go.
They held a dinner at Columbia
Country Club last night to honor
George James. All the celebrities at
Columbia were there, men of mil
lions, men of national fame, men
who grew up as caddies on the old
Columbia Golf Club course; Red
Banagan and Fred Mcleod.
TliH orI Tim nerr,,v,,o r%I..
cartoonlsts, presented George with
engraved and autographed pictures
of himself, crow 's-feet, wrinkles and
all.
Genuine Friendship Shown.
But the main part of the affair
was the love that George found in
the hearts of all of those who gath
cred to do him honor. I don't
know where. in good many years. I
have seen more genuine friendship
and liking for an individual than
| those men of Columbia showed for
George last night Presiding as
| toastmaster at one of the notable
affairs of the year was Donald
woodward, for years an associate
Of James on the Columbia Golf
Committee.
Speakers included Martin r. West,
president of the club; Albert R. Mac
Kenzie, DR.. Paul M. Stewart. Cham
pion Davis and Thomas Davis, Hugh
H. Saum, James L. Wright, Jay G.
Hayden, John H. Cowles, Darcy
Banagan, Ed Gableman, Arthur B.
Shelton, Cliff and Jim Bergman
and Walter McCallum. At the end
the l3 members of the old Columbia
Club who were present gave to
George silver tray. Earlier Nc
Leod and Banagan had given him a
golf bag.
Past president of the Middle At
lantic Golf Association and the Dis
trict Golf Association, heavy with
honors won in golf competition,
James leaves Washington for a re-
sponslble position in Wilmington,
N. c. He will be missed as few men
have been missed. for George James
has Stood through thick and thin,
for the best in golf and in sports
manship. No man who stands for
those things can be replaced quickly.
Gipe Leads Federal Tourney.
Engaged in what may prove to be
vain chase after slim Jim Gipe,
some IS of the better golfers in the
Federal departments played at
Beaver Dam today, all striving to
beat the 36-hole score of 148 turned
in by the reticent Navy Yard en-
ploye who works in the technical
laboratory of the Navy at Bellevue
Jim turned in scores of II and
II over his home course at Beaver
Dam yesterday to pace a field of
more than 100 entrants. His card
still may stand up tonight, when
the Federal Golf Association tourney
ends. But such noted and capable
shotmakers as Billy Dettweiler of
F.. B. l., Jock Olmstead of General
Accounting Office and Jerry Hart, a
former champion, may lick the score
| registered by the Navy mechanic.
1t isn't likely, but it's possible.
Beaver Dam happens to be at one
and the same time the longest and
oAAC "a VAAC OOuSAACoV SoAA NOul SCo
around the Capital, and 148 for 36
holes by an amateur is pretty good
golf. Also among the threats today
is Joe Balestri of Government
Printing ONCE. a gent thoroughly
familiar with Beaver Dam.
Second among the gross scorers
yesterday was Bill Lawrence of Gov-
ernment Printing Office, with TO
76-152. Leroy Smith of Labor had
78-75-153. Topping the net scorers
was E. L. Cogan of Interior, who
used to caddy for Roland MacKen-
zie. Cogan had 86-81-26-141. w.
A. Whitehead of Securities and Ex-
change Commission had 87-82-
| 26-143.
Twenty-two-year- old Lewis Wor-
sham, the bridegroom pro at Burning
Tree. wasn't 50 hot at the National
Open, but he is the hottest thing
' L.