ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605100043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PINEHURST, N.C.
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
Bob Drum, the longtime golf writer who stumbled across a high school hotshot named Arnold Palmer, worked as sports publicity director at VMI and later brought laughter to CBS golf coverage with his amusing insights, died after a lengthy illness. He was 78.
Drum, who was working for the now-defunct Pittsburgh Press when he first saw Palmer play, died in a hospital Wednesday in Pinehurst, N.C., where he lived in retirement. The cause of death was heart failure.
Drum, who had been an All-American basketball player at Alabama, suffered a series of small strokes over the past two years and underwent colon cancer surgery earlier this year.
``I've known Bob Drum almost from the start of my golf career,'' Palmer said when he learned of Drum's death.
``He had a long and active life and will certainly be missed by the golf community of the world.''
One of Drum's sons, Robert Jr., and Palmer share the same birthday, Sept.10.
Drum, a large, good-natured man known for his quick wit and hard-living lifestyle, was a past president of the Golf Writers Association of America and was published in nearly every major golf magazine.
He was the sports publicity director at VMI in 1965 and 1966. At the 1964-65 Southern Conference basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Drum celebrated after a Keydet game and had a hard time getting up the next morning. As they were packing up the bus to leave the next day, one of VMI's players stopped Drum and said, ``Gee, your eyes don't look so good.''
Drum answered, ``You should see them from this side.''
``He was a real character,'' said retired VMI athletic director Tom Joynes.
A memorial service for Drum, who is survived by his wife M.J., will be held at the Village Chapel in Pinehurst at noon on May 15.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB