| (1919
- 2001) |
| Inducted: |
2003 |
| Region: |
U.S. |
| Industry: |
Retail
|
|
Ely Reeves Callaway Jr. took up the game of golf at an early age, winning several club championships in his teens. After serving in the Army in World War II, he entered the textile industry and rose through the ranks, becoming President and Director of Burlington Industries in 1968. He switched gears in the 1970s and started Callaway Vineyard and Winery, eventually selling it for a handsome profit.
In the 1990s, Callaway revolutionized the golf industry. Finding a way to create a stainless steel driver that had a larger and more forgiving head, Mr. Callaway dubbed the club "Big Bertha" after a World War I German cannon famous for long-distance capabilities. Annual sales approached $1 billion in 1997, and “Mr. C” became an icon by making the game more enjoyable for the average golfer. |
