Sidney had strong character and a cordial demeanor that was both humble and pleasing. A hard worker, he rapidly endeared himself to members at the Augusta National, where he worked as a bootblack and locker room attendant. As Beau served the members, they often praised his remarkable talent in the ring. Beau loved it. He took pride in boasting about his fighting skills. When he was not shining shoes, waiting tables or caddying, you could find him shadow boxing around the locker room.
Following his string of victories at Aiken’s Municipal Auditorium, Jack went to work shining shoes during the seventh annual Masters Tournament held on April 4–7, 1940. Jimmy Demaret, the Houston Hurricane, won the tournament with a score of 280. On a rainy Sunday afternoon, darkened by a partial solar eclipse, Demaret made 17 pars and one birdy in the final round. A record 10,000 spectators showed up for the final day. Speaking afterward, Bobby Jones, president of the Augusta National Golf Club, expressed “gratification at what he termed ‘the finest and best behaved golf gallery in the world.’”1
Fruitland Manor, Augusta National Golf Club, c. 1933 (Library of Congress).
In the evenings, Jack amused the Augusta National members and guests by showing off his dominance in battles royal. Knowing of his uncanny abilities, several of the affluent members made substantial returns wagering on Beau at one of the battles. Beau’s fighting skills were quickly becoming renowned.
Young Jack’s success in fighting and his work ethic caught the attention of legendary golfer Bobby Jones and Augusta National co-founder and CEO Clifford Roberts. Following the conclusion of the tournament, Jones and Roberts, along with other members, discussed the proposition of providing Beau a chance to box professionally. Eagerly, they resolved to furnish Beau a chance to prove himself in the ring. As a boxer, Beau would need money for training expenses, a boxing license, a manager, a trainer, food, and housing. Funds were soon raised for Jack to embark on a professional boxing career.
There are several different versions of how the money was raised, who contributed funds, and the amount advanced. All accounts, however, refer to the contributors as the “Syndicate.” According to Clifford Roberts, Bowman Milligan requested $500 to take Jack up north to test out his boxing skills. So, Clifford Roberts, an investment banker by trade, passed a hat around and 20 people contributed $25 each to raise $500. Another version states that 20 individuals, including Bobby Jones, each threw in $50, for a pot of $1,000.
Bobby Jones, c. 1921 (Library of Congress).
Recalling later, Beau Jack gave Bobby Jones credit, praising him for helping him start his boxing career.
It was Mr. Jones more than anyone else. He told me one day, “Hey, you’re a little bitty, skinny kid and you always seem to want to fight. Would you like to try for a career in the big time?” I told him, “Yes, sir” and he said, “See me when I get in from my round today and we’ll talk about it.”
I did and he said, “I’m going to get some of my friends to see if we can’t get you the money to do it right.” He did everything he said, got me money for clothes, got me a trainer and manager (Bowman Milligan, steward at the Augusta course) and sent me off to New York to train right.2
Beau enthusiastically acknowledged Jones as leading the effort. Reportedly, Jones put up $500 for the venture and then convinced 50 other members to contribute $50 each. Irrespective of the version, the Syndicate agreed that if Beau won the 135-pound title, members would only receive their investment back.
Who were members of the Syndicate contributing funds for Beau Jack? Unquestionably, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts were members of the Syndicate. Comparing the different stories, it appears the rest of the members included Frank Craven, Frank Crumit, Billy DeBeck, Henry McLemore, Distiller Ellis “Slats” Slater, and Tom Yawkey. It was indeed an outstanding and distinguished group of men.
Frank Craven (1875–1945) was a well-known actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. Craven scripted screenplays, such as The 19th Hole (1927), The First Year (1926) and Too Many Crooks (1931). One of his best-known screenplays was the Sons of the Desert (1933), a Laurel and Hardy film. Craven also acted on Broadway and in film. He appeared in Jack London (1943) and as the stage manager in the original 1938 Broadway production and 1940 movie version of Our Town (1940).
Frank Crumit (1889–1943), along with his wife, Julia Sanderson, were popular radio entertainers, known as the “singing sweethearts on the air.” They engaged in comedic discourse and entertained their listeners with their singing and dialogue. Frank was also a prevalent singer, songwriter, and vaudeville star. His versions of The Gay Caballero and Abdul the Bulbul Ameer sold more than 4,000,000 records.
Billy DeBeck (1890–1942) was a famous cartoonist and the creator of the renowned and critically successful comic strips, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith. During the 1920s and 1930s, virtually every newspaper reader knew his characters Bunky, Snuffy Smith, and Spark Plug, the racehorse. DeBeck was also a huge sports buff.
Henry McLemore (1906–1968), born in Macon, Georgia, was a United Press International (UPI) sportswriter and eminent syndicated sports columnist. He also was an actor, appearing in such films as Swing with Bing (1940) and The Millionaire (1955). Interestingly, he violated the “no women” rule in the press box at Yankee Stadium, when he brought his wife Mary with him, ignoring the howls of disapproval.3 In his later years, he joined the publicity department for the Daytona International Speedway and was an avid NASCAR fan.
Distiller Ellis “Slats” Slater (1895–1983) was the president of Frankfort Distillers Corp., a profitable liquor company. Slater, like Clifford Roberts, was a good friend of President Eisenhower. Slats frequently played golf and bridge with Ike. Through his interactions with President Eisenhower, Slater penned the biography The Ike I Knew.
The final member of the Syndicate was Tom Yawkey (1903–1976). Yawkey inherited a multimillion-dollar fortune from his late uncle on his 30th birthday. Four days later he bought the Boston Red Sox. He served as the sole owner of the Red Sox for 44 seasons (1933–1976).
Other accounts often include sportswriter Grantland Rice as a Syndicate member, but Rice denied any financial interest in Beau. According to Rice, his only interest in Beau was covering him as a sportswriter. Sportswriter Richards Vidmer was also frequently mentioned but he denied any monetary interest as well.
Ironically, Beau Jack rose out of this wealthy opulent world of the white man. Like many other clubs and venues, segregation and discrimination were commonplace. In the game of golf, there were very few black golfers. Steeped with traditions that began in the thirties, the Augusta National emphasized its traditionalistic, wealthy, aristocratic atmosphere. Only white golfers adorned the fairways at the Augusta National. The first African American golfer was not allowed to participate in the Masters Tournament until Lee Elder did so in 1975. Black caddies for white golfers was the rule until 1983 when professional golfers were permitted to use their caddy of choice. It is said that Clifford Roberts once stated, “As long as I’m alive, the golfers will be white and the caddies will be black.” The first African-American member was admitted in 1991.
1. Tom Wall, “Demaret Clinches Masters; 10,000 Follow Final Round,” Augusta Chronicle, April 8, 1940, 1, 4–5.
2. “Beau Jack Credits Bobby Jones,” Augusta Chronicle, January 28, 1979, 3B.
3. Patrick Kelly, “Monday’s Mood,” News-Press, July 8, 1968, 18.