Blind Ambition
Charlie Boswell has always been
one of my heroes. He has inspired me and thousands of others
to rise above circumstances and live our true passion. Charlie
was blinded during World War II while rescuing his friend from
a tank that was under fire. He
was a great athlete before his accident and in a testimony to
his talent and determination he decided to try a brand new
sport, a sport he never imagined playing, even with his eyesight
. . . golf!
Through determination and a deep
love for the game he became the National Blind Golf Champion! He
won that honor 13 times. One of his heroes was the great golfer Ben Hogan,
so it truly was an honor for Charlie to win the Ben Hogan Award
in 1958.
Upon meeting Ben Hogan, Charlie
was awestruck and stated that he had one wish and it was to have one round
of golf with the great Ben Hogan.
Mr. Hogan agreed that playing
a round together would be an honor for him as well, as he had heard about
all of Charlie's accomplishments and truly admired his skills.
"Would you like to play for money,
Mr. Hogan?" blurted out Charlie.
"I can't play you for money, it
wouldn't be fair!" said Mr. Hogan.
"Aw, come on, Mr. Hogan...$1,000
per hole!"
"I can't, what would people think
of me, taking advantage of you and your circumstance," replied
the sighted golfer.
"Chicken, Mr. Hogan?"
"Okay," blurted a frustrated Hogan,
"but I am going to play my best!"
"I wouldn't expect anything else,"
said the confident Boswell.
"You're on Mr. Boswell, you name
the time and the place!"
A very self-assured Boswell responded
"10 o'clock . . .
tonight!"
By John Kanary
from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry
Spilchuk