Byron Nelson Congressional Gold Medal Act
PL 109-357 (H.R.4902), enacted 10/16/2006

120 STAT. 2044
PUBLIC LAW 109–357—OCT. 16, 2006
Public Law 109–357
109th Congress
An Act
To award a Congressional gold medal to Byron Nelson in recognition of his significant
contributions to the game of golf as a player, a teacher, and a commentator.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Byron Nelson Congressional
Gold Medal Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Byron Nelson was a top player in the sport of golf
during the World War II era and his accomplishments as a
player, a teacher, and commentator are renowned.
(2) Byron Nelson won 54 career victories, including a record
11 in a row in 1945, during his short 13-year career.
(3) Byron Nelson won 5 majors, including 2 Masters (1937
and 1942), two Professional Golf Association (PGA) Champion-
ships (1940 and 1945) and the U.S. Open (1939).
(4) Sports journalist Bill Nichols recently ranked the
greatest seasons on the PGA tour for The Dallas Morning
News and picked Roanoke, Texas-resident Byron Nelson’s 1945
tour as the greatest season of golf in American history.
(5) In 1945, Byron Nelson accumulated 18 total victories,
11 of which were consecutive, while averaging 68.33 strokes
per round for 30 tournaments.
(6) At the Seattle Open in 1945, Byron Nelson shot a
record 62 for 18 holes and the world record 259, 29 shots
under par for 72 holes.
(7) Byron Nelson is one of only two golfers to be named
‘‘Male Athlete of the Year’’ twice by the Associated Press: in
1944, when he won 7 tournaments and averaged 69.67 strokes
for 85 rounds, and again after his 1945 season.
(8) The World Golf Hall of Fame honored Byron Nelson
in 2004 by featuring an exhibit entitled ‘‘Byron Nelson: A
Champion . . . A Gentleman’’.
(9) Byron Nelson was selected for the Ryder Cup 4 times—
in 1937, 1939, 1947 and 1965, and on that last occasion he
led the United States Ryder Cup team as team captain to
victory over Great Britain.
(10) Byron Nelson was also a pioneer in the golf business,
helping to develop the golf shoes and umbrellas used today.
(11) In 1966, True Temper created the ‘‘Iron Byron’’ robot
to replicate Byron Nelson’s swing in order to test the company’s
Byron Nelson
Congressional
Gold Medal Act.
31 USC 5111
note.
Oct. 16, 2006
[H.R. 4902]
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120 STAT. 2045
PUBLIC LAW 109–357—OCT. 16, 2006
equipment, but the robot was eventually used for club and
ball testing by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and
many other manufacturing companies.
(12) Byron Nelson mentored many golf hopefuls, including
1964 Player of the Year Ken Venturi and 6-time PGA Player
of the Year Tom Watson.
(13) Byron Nelson was one of the first golf analysts on
network television where his understanding of the game in
general, and the golf swing in particular, was demonstrably
profound.
(14) Byron Nelson received the United States Golf Associa-
tion’s Bob Jones Award for distinguished sportsmanship in
golf in 1974.
(15) In 1974, the Golf Writers Association of America pre-
sented Byron Nelson with the Richardson Award for consist-
ently outstanding contributions to golf.
(16) Since 1983, the Byron and Louise Nelson Golf Endow-
ment Fund has provided over $1,500,000 in endowment funds
to Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.
(17) Byron Nelson received the PGA Distinguished Service
Award in 1993. This award is presented to an individual who
has helped perpetuate the ideals and values of the PGA.
(18) Byron Nelson has served as an honorary chairperson
for the Metroport Meals on Wheels since 1992.
(19) In 1994, the Golf Course Superintendents Association
of America presented Byron Nelson with the Old Tom Morris
Award for outstanding contributions to the game.
(20) Byron Nelson helped to develop the Tournament
Players Course (TPC) Four Seasons at Los Colinas, Texas,
site of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and the Byron
Nelson Golf School, into a world-class facility.
(21) The EDS Byron Nelson Championship is the only
PGA tour event named in honor of a professional golfer and
traditionally attracts the strongest players in the sport.
(22) Since its inception, the EDS Byron Nelson Champion-
ship has raised $88,000,000 for Salesmanship Club Youth and
Family Centers, a nonprofit agency that provides education
and mental health services for more than 2,700 children and
their families in the greater Dallas area.
(23) In 2002, Byron Nelson received the prestigious Donald
Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course
Architects (ASGCA) for his significant contribution to the game
of golf and the profession of golf course architecture.
(24) The United States Golf Association presented Byron
Nelson the Ike Grainger Award for volunteer service to the
game of golf in 2002.
(25) In 2002, the National Golf Foundation presented Byron
Nelson with the Graffis Award for outstanding lifelong contribu-
tions to the game of golf.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the House
of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate
shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on
behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to
Byron Nelson in recognition of his significant contributions to the
game of golf as a player, a teacher, and a commentator.
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120 STAT. 2046
PUBLIC LAW 109–357—OCT. 16, 2006
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4902 (S. 2491):
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 152 (2006):
May 9, considered and passed House.
Sept. 29, considered and passed Senate.
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the presentation
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter
in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall strike a gold medal
with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined
by the Secretary.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the
gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations
as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery,
and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursuant to this
Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31,
United States Code.
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 5134 of title
31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall
be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—There is authorized
to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise
Fund, such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs
of the medals struck pursuant to this Act.
(b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.—Amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be depos-
ited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Approved October 16, 2006.
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