Happy Birthday Babe Zaharias
Babe Zaharias was the “World’s Greatest Female Athlete,” born in Port Arthur on June 26, 1911. The Babe tried every sport – softball, basketball, golf, track & field, bowling, billiards and tennis – and was competitive in every one of them. At the AAU Track & Field Championship in 1932, Babe, at the age of 21, became the first and only woman to enter all five Olympic Trial events, earning medals in jumping, throwing and running. At the next Olympics, she set the World Record, won gold in javelin and hurdles and took silver in the high jump. Her golf career began in 1935 when she won the Texas Women’s Amateur Championship at age 24. During her 20-year golf career, she dominated the field, winning several Men’s PGA Tournaments and a total of 82 LPGA titles – even competing in some of them while she was being treated for cancer. She and her husband started the Women’s Professional Golf Association. Her impact on women’s sports was unparalleled! Yet, today, many young women (and people ingeneral have no idea the debt owed to “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias for paving the way for women’s sports. Babe received the Medal of Freedom, posthumously, during President Donald Trump’s first term. Beaumont has a wonderful museum dedicated to Babe’s memory and her achievements. Go visit: 1750 I-10 Frontage Road, Beaumont, Texas 77703. Southeast Texas will throw a citywide birthday party for Babe, June 26-28, at the Jefferson Theatre. A movie of Babe’s life story will play at the theater, and there will be cake.
