2017 July-August Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/6/2017
Original Ben Hogan Personal Airman Identification Card - Full Name Signature, Photo/Fingerprint
In March 1943 Ben Hogan enlisted in the Army Air Corps, his first assignment was to the Army Air Forces basic training facility at Tarrant Field outside Fort Worth, Texas. He told a reporter at his induction, "I'm eager to see what flying is all about. A number of golfers have taken to flying between tournaments. Perhaps, if I become a pilot, I might also." Hogan rose through the ranks achieving second lieutenants recognition by November of '43. Shortly after while at the Spartan School of Aerodynamics in Tulsa, Lieutenant Hogan did receive certification as a co-pilot. Out of that training comes the original Airman Identification Card which was issued to Ben Hogan by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. It displays significant use over its tri-fold format, with wear and staining consistent with placement in Ben's wallet. This museum worthy heirloom displays well featuring time period photo, right hand finger prints, and full given name (William Ben Hogan) signature on its surface. Also of note is the early family and town genealogy which this piece displays. A final component of this identification card is the address of 2901 Alton Road Fort Worth, Texas. Located in the heart of Colonial this was the home which the Hogan's resided in at the time of this document, having been built by Ben's brother Royal Hogan in 1941. Shortly before his honorable discharge, Hogan rose to the rank of Captain. He returned to championship level golf, winning his first of nine Majors at the 1946 PGA Championship. This historical personal document which belonged to Hogan and traveled daily on his person commences The Golf Auction's offerings of the Bob Coffin Ben Hogan Collection as sourced from Sharon Rae Personal Secretary to Mr. Hogan (As seen together as employee and boss in photo with this lot). Please see separate statements of provenance from Mrs. Rae's son (Andy) and our consignor Bob Coffin which are displayed with this offering. James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed the formal full name signature of William Ben Hogan contained on this document and finds it to be hand signed by Mr. Hogan.
THE BOB COFFIN COLLECTION SOURCED FROM BEN HOGAN'S PERSONAL SECRETARY SHARON RAE
Bob Coffin is a man of action, as seen by a career of public service which began 35 years ago with his election to the Nevada Assembly. From that office Coffin was the people's choice for a seat in the Nevada State Senate. After serving in that position for the length that Nevada term limitations would allow, Coffin returned to his hometown of Las Vegas where he continues to serve his constituents as a city councilman to this day. For Coffin this passion for service to his country began with a stint in the United States Army, the same branch of service that his lifelong hero Ben Hogan had served in during World War II. Coffin a student of the Hogan approach to golf, learned his lessons well, so well, that he won the 1969 Nevada Amateur Golf Championship. Following that triumph it was only natural in 1979 that the hometown Las Vegas newspaper, the Review Journal, called on Bob to write a golf column for the paper. To this day accolades continue to pour in for this highly respected man in so many arenas be it golf, military, or politics. Most recently, he was named Person of the Year by the Southern Nevada Chapter of the Professional Golfers Association and received the Charles Dick Medal of Honor Award from the United States National Guard.
This career of public service over the lifetime of Bob Coffin offers much for us to respect. We owe him gratitude, but an even larger thank you as golf collectors is due him for his action in preserving the personal ephemera which belonged to Ben and Valerie Hogan. These mementos covering various stages of their storied lives had been gifted by both Ben and Valerie to their trusted personal secretary Sharon Rae (Please see photo that accompanies this lot of Mr. Hogan and Sharon Rae). Mrs. Rae following Ben's passing in 1997 became such a vital part of Mrs. Hogan's life that she accompanied her to both Ben Hogan's tribute at the 1999 Memorial Tournament and to the dedication of the United States Golf Association's Ben Hogan room that same year. Her prominence in the lives of the Hogan's was evident when she was remembered in both Ben's will with a cash bequest and a much larger bequest in Valerie's will. As a studious collector of Hogan material Bob Coffin stayed in contact with the Rae family, and following Sharon's passing was contacted by son Andy Rae. He informed Coffin that in his garage there is "still a bunch of stuff". Coffin, the man of action, caught a plane to Texas and completed a transaction that saved the Hogan collection as sourced through Sharon Rae for the golf collecting community. The Golf Auction is pleased with so much of the prized material of the Hogan's lifetime already placed in permanent homes to be able to make this offering. We recognize that it may be the last opportunity available to offer fresh Hogan material, which contains rock solid provenance, to the collectors of arguably the greatest golfer of the 20th century but certainly one of America's most idolized and interesting people of that century.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, August 6th, with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended
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