AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Friends and family turned out at Paine College to say goodbye to Jim Dent.
“We really just have to be thankful, thankful that we had an example. He was who he was. We just have to be thankful for him being who he was,” said Andre Lacey his grandson and golf coach at Paine College.Jim Dent was an Augustan, whose start in golf was as a caddie at Augusta National and the County Club. He was one of the black caddies honored with the new monument in Sand Hills.“I’ve known Jim since I was a little boy you see we called ourselves hillbillies, and even with his fame his money he never changed,” said Hugh Jones.Against the odds, Dent made the PGA tour and rose to stardom on the Champions tour where he was a 12-time winner.“Amazing. I think what it was he heard that you can’t do it and he said I’m going to show you that I can,” said Augusta Commissioner Francine Scott.Dent is described as a loving family man who passed down his passion for golf.“I probably wouldn’t be the man that I am today without him, that’s first and foremost, and he gave me a life skill, golf, where I can take anywhere with me,” said son Joshua Dent.Jim Dent was a big public supporter of Augusta Nationals’ renovations at the Patch Golf Course, where he played regularly well into his 80’s.“It was home, you know, we come together in fellowship with many locals brothers and sisters that would come out there it was just a place to have a good time,” said son Joseph DentFriends and family saying good bye to pioneer in the world of golf.Jim Dent passed one week shy of his 86th birthday…