Thanks, Nancy: sharing memories of Lopez' 25-year career

Golf Digest, Oct, 2002 by Jim Moriarty

I was looking for somebody who really cared about these kids and was willing to give us their heart. I told her that attached to every heart are two strings--one to your brain, one to your pocketbook. If I get your heart, I get every contact you have. Nancy said, "Let me think about it."

Soon after that, she called and said, "I'm coming to Dayton." She was there for two days. She met the board, she met the kids, she met the parents, she met the staff. I took her into the schools and the hospitals where we work. After two days of this she's ready to get on a plane, and I said, "You think about this and see if you can give me a total commitment." She just started to cry. She said, "I don't have to think. You've got everything I have." That was 24 years ago.

She loves these kids. I tell you, it's like a light turns on when she sees them. She's down on their level. They're hugging her. I was talking on the phone, and one of our kids said, "Dr. Jo, who have you been talking to?" I said, "I was just talking to Nancy." He said, "Who?" I said, "You know, Nancy Lopez, the golfer." Her picture is around the building, and he had met her and all. He thought for a minute and said, "Dr. Jo, I don't know Nancy Lopez the golfer. I just know the Nancy who loves us."

Additional reporting by Isaac Gruber

Do you have your own personal memories of Nancy Lopez? Please send an e-mail to us at editor@golfdigest.com, and we'll include comments in a future issue.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Lopez file.

Born: Jan. 6, 1957; Torrance, Calif.
Residence: Albany, Ga.
Height: 5-feet-5.
Family: Husband, Ray Knight; Ashley
  (18), Erinn (16), Torri (10).
College: Tulsa (1976 All-American).
Turned professional: 1977.

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS

New Mexico Women's Amateur: Won as a
  12-year-old in 1969.
U.S. Junior Girls Ch.: Winner, 1972 and
  1974.
U.S. Open: Tied for second in 1975.

LPGA HIGHLIGHTS

Hall of Fame: 1987 (entered World
  Golf Hall of Fame in 1989).
Player of the Year: 1978, '79, '85, '88.
Career victories: 48, including five in a
  row as a rookie in 1978.
Major titles: 1978 LPGA Ch., 1985 LPGA
  Ch., 1989 Mazda LPGA Ch.
Career earnings: $5,312,638.
Career-low round: 64.
Holes-in-one: 3.
Playoff record: 8-7.

NATIONAL TEAMS

Curtis Cup: 1976-2-0-0.
Solheim Cup: 1990-2-1-0.