On the TunneySide of Sports June 10, 2019 #747 A Tribute Revisited!
After further review… Today begins the week of the 119th U.S. Open to be played at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The Honorary General Chairman is R.J. Harper, posthumously honored. R.J. passed away November 8, 2017, after 14 months battling pancreatic cancer. He will be missed.
Harpers! The Pebble Beach Company with the cooperation of the U.S.G.A. has established a venue adjacent to the 10th fairway called Harpers. All U.S. Open ticket holders are welcome. His presence will be felt throughout this week.
Here’s his story:
“R.J.” was all the title he needed. Everyone knew who he was, but many didn’t know how he achieved his success. He grew up in a simple, unsophisticated environment in Memphis, Tennessee. He was always a straight-forward, easy-to-meet guy – a guy you’d like to have as your best friend. He was one of mine.
In this twenties, he made his way across the U.S. to achieve his dream of playing golf on the Pebble Beach Golf Course. He began working there as a marshal for $5.00 an hour in the mid-1980s. His daily routine of hard work, friendly attitude, and perseverance helped him work his way through the culture of the company to become the Executive Vice-President of Golf for the Pebble Beach Company’s four golf courses. His stature in that role ranked him among the best!
Hall of Fame golfer Jack Nicklaus said of Pebble Beach that if he had one last game to play, he would like it to be those 18 holes at Pebble Beach. Nicklaus is among those names you could count as a close friend of R.J.s You’ll find every legend of the game on that list. Maybe first and foremost, would be the late Arnold Palmer. Arnie considered R.J. a dear friend, although the age difference would make R.J. the age of his son.
As R.J. fought that dreaded pancreatic cancer his two sons, Tucker and J.T. were at his side throughout, as was his former wife Kelly, along with his boss, Bill Perocchi, Pebble Beach CEO and his wife, Nanci.
My friendship with R.J. began 30 years ago. He was a member of the Jim Tunney Youth Foundation Board of Directors for whom he served with dignity. He is missed every day.
Will you emulate that R.J. smile and friendliness when you meet others?
To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
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Jim’s thirteenth book and the third in a series ‘Yet Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports’ will be published July 1st. To get an advance and personally autographed copy with free shipping, please send a check for $20 to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, CA. 93953 or use PayPal.
This offer is available to the continental United States only.
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To contact Jim, go to JimTunney.com or email Jim@JimTunney.com. Jim’s books are full of inspiration and interesting stories. Please visit his online store to learn more. 
Be sure to get Jim’s book ‘Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports’ by clicking this link or using the email above to contact Jim directly. These TunneySides take issues from real-life situations and relate them as inspiration for the betterment of others. Jim is available for speaking engagements on leadership and T*E*A*M Building. His books are available for $20 which includes shipping and tax. The Tunney Bobblehead is available for $30. Please visit JimTunney.com. Thank you!
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