Rich Lerner

Lee Elder was equipped to deal with the difficulties facing a Black man in a predominantly white and, for too long, segregated sport, in part because he was born into a life of hardship, in 1934, Depression-era Dallas, Texas, one of 10 children. His father was killed in Germany in World War II. His mother died shortly thereafter. At 12, Elder found a home with an aunt in Los Angeles. Young Lee tagged along with an older brother who had begun to caddie at a local course to support the family.

Lee Elder was equipped to deal with the difficulties facing a Black man in a predominantly white and, for too long, segregated sport, in part because he was born into a life of hardship, in 1934, Depression-era Dallas, Texas, one of 10 children. His father was killed in Germany in World War II. His mother died shortly thereafter. At 12, Elder found a home with an aunt in Los Angeles. Young Lee tagged along with an older brother who had begun to caddie at a local course to support the family.