UNT Legend Don January Passes Away at 93
5/7/2023 12:51:00 PM | Men's Golf
UNT golf legend Don January, arguably the most decorated professional golfer to come from the program, passed away on Sunday at his home in Dallas at age 93.
January was born in Plainview, Texas, and graduated from Dallas Sunset High School before coming to Denton to play for legendary coach and college golf pioneer Fred Cobb and playing an integral role on the final three of the Mean Green's four consecutive NCAA Championships from 1950-52. Those teams are still considered to be one of the best collegiate golf lineups in history, along with Billy Maxwell, Buster Reed and Joe Conrad, and January was the last surviving member of the famous foursome.
January went on to highly successful professional career after his time at North Texas, as he won 10 times on the PGA Tour, earned the 1976 Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average at age 47 and was a two-time member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1965 and 1977. In 1965, January went 2-2-1 in a U.S. victory, and in 1977 he went 0-1-1 in another U.S. victory. His biggest victory came in 1967 when he won the PGA Championship when he forced a playoff and won the 18-hole Monday playoff at Denver's Columbine Country Club.
When he turned 50, he went on to join PGA Tour Champions and won the first official Champions event at the 1980 Atlantic City Senior International. His final of his 22 wins on the circuit came at the 1987 MONY Senior Tournament of Champions. He also won a pair of PGA Seniors' Championships. In 1981, he was inducted in the inaugural class of the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Don January Golf Classic, a golf tournament played annually in the spring and organized by UNT, was established in 1980 to honor him.
January is survived by three children (Tim, Richard and Cherie Depuy), six grandchildren (Sean, Cody, Alexandra Hill, Meagan Eichenlaub, Andy Stowe, Samantha Reasor) and eight great grandchildren.
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January was born in Plainview, Texas, and graduated from Dallas Sunset High School before coming to Denton to play for legendary coach and college golf pioneer Fred Cobb and playing an integral role on the final three of the Mean Green's four consecutive NCAA Championships from 1950-52. Those teams are still considered to be one of the best collegiate golf lineups in history, along with Billy Maxwell, Buster Reed and Joe Conrad, and January was the last surviving member of the famous foursome.
January went on to highly successful professional career after his time at North Texas, as he won 10 times on the PGA Tour, earned the 1976 Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average at age 47 and was a two-time member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1965 and 1977. In 1965, January went 2-2-1 in a U.S. victory, and in 1977 he went 0-1-1 in another U.S. victory. His biggest victory came in 1967 when he won the PGA Championship when he forced a playoff and won the 18-hole Monday playoff at Denver's Columbine Country Club.
When he turned 50, he went on to join PGA Tour Champions and won the first official Champions event at the 1980 Atlantic City Senior International. His final of his 22 wins on the circuit came at the 1987 MONY Senior Tournament of Champions. He also won a pair of PGA Seniors' Championships. In 1981, he was inducted in the inaugural class of the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Don January Golf Classic, a golf tournament played annually in the spring and organized by UNT, was established in 1980 to honor him.
January is survived by three children (Tim, Richard and Cherie Depuy), six grandchildren (Sean, Cody, Alexandra Hill, Meagan Eichenlaub, Andy Stowe, Samantha Reasor) and eight great grandchildren.
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