Jay Hebert
A decorated World War II veteran who channeled a Marine's toughness into a major golf championship and a celebrated Ryder Cup captaincy.
1923–1997 (age 74)·American professional golfer·Birthday: February 14·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Jay Hebert's path to golf glory was forged in the Pacific theater. Serving as a Marine in some of World War II's fiercest battles, including Iwo Jima, he earned a Purple Heart for wounds that left him with a permanent limp—a hitch in his swing that became a trademark. After the war, he turned professional, bringing a gritty, competitive fire to the fairways. His game was powerful and precise, peaking in 1960 when he outdueled Jim Ferrier to win the PGA Championship at Firestone, a major victory that defined his career. Hebert was a stalwart team player, representing the U.S. in two Ryder Cups as a player. His leadership qualities shone later when he was chosen to captain the 1971 U.S. team at Old Warson Country Club, guiding them to a decisive victory. Alongside his younger brother Lionel, who also won a PGA Championship, Jay Hebert represented a generation of golfers whose resilience was shaped by experiences far beyond the sport.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Jay was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jay Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Jay's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1997Died at 74
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Won the 1960 PGA Championship at Firestone Country Club, his sole major victory.
- Captained the victorious United States Ryder Cup team in 1971.
- Won seven official PGA Tour events between 1957 and 1966.
- Represented the United States as a player on the 1959 and 1961 Ryder Cup teams.
Did You Know?
He was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded by shrapnel while serving as a U.S. Marine on Iwo Jima.
He and his brother Lionel are the only brothers to have both won the PGA Championship.
His son, J. P. Hebert, is a professional tennis coach who has worked with top players.
He was known for a distinctive, slightly hunched-over posture at address, partly due to his war injuries.
“A limp doesn't matter if you can read the green and keep your nerve.”
