Intermountain Sportraits Salt Lake Trib Nov 16 1955 Schneiter Youngest Oldtimer George Schneiter is the youngest oldtimer in Utah sports. A dogmatic statement to be sure, but George, Who is only 42 years old, has had his name in the golf headlines for 27 or 28 years . . . and those lengthy years of glory should be enough to make him an oldtimer. And easy going George is not through. He played well enough in the National Open to qualify for next years Masters, where only the cream of the worlds golfers are invited. Hell hit the big time circuit again this winter, not for the whole swing, but hell be in some of the big meets. All of this golf business began around 1920, when George started caddying at the Ogden Country Club at the tender age of 7. Only one golfer, Ralph Bristol, would let George caddy for him and it ended more than once with Mr. Bristol carrying George (and the clubs) for the last couple of holes. (Ten years later it was this same Ralph Bristol who was instrumental in making George the professional at the Ogden C.C. Schneiter was just 17 at the time.) When George was 14 he Was medalist for the Utah Junior Open. When he was 15 he won it and never competed in another. That year When he won it he beat the defending champion, Les Jarman and recalls beating Paul Owmby and Bill Kingsley on his way to the title. So in 1930 he got that pro job, a job he held until 1942. He says that Mr. Bristol and Mrs. A. P. Bigelow, for whom he had caddied a lot, were his angels in obtaining the post. It would take too long to list everything George has won. Utah Open champion three times, runnerup six times; Intermountain Open champion four times; the Colorado Open, Washington Open, the Northern California Open, the Idaho Open, the Nevada Open ... all have been Won by George. He went to the semifinals in the national PGA in 1944, has finished as high as eighth in the National Open, was a leading money winner on the PGA circuit for several years, organized the Rocky Mountain section of the PGA. This should be enough for anyone, but Schneiter also was tournament bureau manager for five years and was vice president of the national PGA for no less than 12 years. He formulated the PGAs Sponsors guide and tournament player regulations, which are still being used. And now, besides being a player good enough to rate a bid to the Masters, he is a successful businessman in Salt Lake City. He was married right after he got his pro job in 1930 and the Schneiters have two sons and a daughter. Cheryl Ann, the daughter, has a successful dancing school; George Jr. or Jerry, has been on an LDS mission and is now in the Army, and Thair is now on an LDS mission. Both Jerry and Thair are fine golfers and while Jerry has his eye on the same type of a career as his father, Thair probably will enter the business world. Some opinions Byron Nelson is the best shot maker Schneiter has ever seen; Ben Hogan the finest competitor and Sam Snead the most natural performer, doing things the easiest. Advice to fathers wanting to get their youngsters started in golf. Be sure that their clubs fit them. Most kids start off with clubs much too long, develop a flat swing, which, according to George, is about as bad a habit as a young golfer can get. How about that statement heard so many times, If Schneiter could only putt. Well, George doesnt let it bother him. You fellows writing about golf tournaments have to report the bad shots. So Ive had lots of publicity on the putts Ive missed. But Ive also had my share of good putts, but perhaps they just havent had the right publicity, George said. George has always been willing to help others. Dick Lundahl, professional at Annandale in Pasadena, Calif., a former Logan boy, has always publicly credited Schneiter for any success he has had. And George was real proud the other day. His phone rang and it was Dick. Lundahl had just won the Southern California Open and he could hardly wait to get to the telephone to report to dad. Yes, it has been a wonderful life for this young oldtimer who probably is just beginning. Hell be Utahs greatest golfer for a long time to come.