Tribute: Jerry Cozby

A Hall of Famer Remembered

by Maria Gus

Jerry Cozby was a master of the game. He was the PGA National Professional of the Year, the PGA South Central Section Professional of the Year, inducted into the section Hall of Fame, the PGA of America Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame in 2016.

Jerry Cozby, however, was also a master of the game of life. He was strong, true, and filled with integrity. Certainly he had days that were better than others, but his center and compass was his incredible drive. His drive not only helped him develop and grow Hillcrest Country Club, but also built a true legacy that covers so much more than golf.

Jerry met his Wife, Karole, when she was a freshman, and he was a senior at Lamar University. In Karole, Cozby had no doubt he met his match. Cozby immediately told Karole Stanley that he was a golfer. She replied, “I’m a golfer, too!” Somewhat surprised he responded, “you are?” Karole said the rest was history. Cozby then told Stanley that he was from Odessa, Texas. When she told him she was from Houston and didn’t know where Odessa was, he responded, “Well, I’m from Texas, you’re from Houston.” Honest, confident, and direct, that was Jerry Cozby.

Bartlesville knows Cozby best for his role as head professional at Hillcrest Country Club, a position he held for 41 years. Cozby was a Bartlesville legend. He could talk to the CEO pulling in a multi-million dollar salary with the same ease that he could speak to the guy loading clubs in the golf cart. He lived to serve others.

Jerry’s sons, Cary, Craig, and Chance, all went on to have successful careers in golf of their own. The Cozbys are woven into the fabric of Oklahoma golf and the legacy of the senior Cozby is his incredible dedication to serve his community. Cozby’s efforts to make Hillcrest Country Club a top notch golf course not only helped those that played there, it contributed to the brand of Bartlesville.

“Jerry thought he could help develop Hillcrest and the course into something to be really proud of,” said Karole Cozby. “There were many deals secured at the golf course. Jerry tried to do his part to make sure it was a class act from the moment they stepped out of their car until they left. More than one time, people would come in and bring guests and say, “This is the best-kept secret in Oklahoma!” That was the work of Jerry Cozby.

Jerry Cozby also volunteered his time with what was then The Boys Club and made sure his children knew that life was more than the country club. He believed firmly in posting your score and walking away. When you do well people will know by the score, not because you told them.

“My dad never told me he was competitive. He didn’t have to,” said Cary Cozby, the oldest of the three Cozby boys. “Even if it was the four of us, he was trying to beat us, and we were trying to beat him. I think that drive wasn’t just on the course, it was in his career and providing for his family. It was how he did everything.”

“I remember beating him for the first time and how proud he was that I did, even though he did not want to get beat,” recalls middle son Craig. At Cozby’s funeral, Craig fondly recalled that his dad was always about the weather, and what that really meant was he wanted to protect his family. “And if I’m like my dad, I’m okay with that.”

Youngest son Chance shared a recent dream. “I was playing golf, and he appeared out of nowhere. He had his weight back, was wearing a traditional bucket hat with a golf shirt and khakis. He smiled and gave me a hug and asked me how I was doing, then told me he was just “checking in.” Maybe that was his way of confirming to me that he is watching over his family from above, although I had zero doubt.”

His memorial service was understated like Jerry. “He would not have wanted a big deal at all,” said Karole. “What we did on the golf course was the most incredible tribute to Jerry that we could have had.”

Above all else, it was family for Jerry Cozby. Everything he did was to give his family more. He was proud of them but he was not one to brag. Only post his score.