Bob Buck, Executive Director
rbuck@eagagolf.org
Bob Buck has been a below-knee amputee for the past past fifty-two years. A graduate of the Choate School, Wallingford, CT in 1960, Bob attended the University of North Carolina for 2 years joining the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity before going into the US Army in 1963. He was stationed in Fort Devens, MA, Sinop, Turkey, Fort Eustis, VA & Saigon, Vietnam prior to his honorable discharge in 1966. Bob completed his college education at Transylvania University, Lexington, KY (Bus Admin - 1968) and began his career with Bethlehem Steel Corporation. In early 1969, Bob had an automobile accident breaking both tibia and fibula and was on crutches for a year trying to save his right leg. Finally, in April 1970, after over a year’s battle with osteomyelitis, Bob made the decision to have his leg amputated. Turned out to be the right decision! During his career with Bethlehem Steel, Bob worked in the St Louis, Kansas City, Bethlehem, and Philadelphia Sales Offices. Bob retired (2002) after 33 years with Bethlehem Steel as a Senior Account Manager in Field Sales.
Bob is a former Eastern Trustee of the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA) and is the Founder (1986), past President & current Executive Director of the Eastern Amputee Golf Association (EAGA). This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization conducts amputee golf tournaments and outings, provides College Scholarships to amputee students and children & grandchildren of amputee members as well as conducts their “First Swing/Learn to Golf” clinics for rehab and golf professionals and individuals with disabilities and their families. In 1994, Bob was given an “Honorable Mention” Award during National Rehabilitation Week for the work he and the EAGA do to benefit the amputee and disabled community.
In 1997, Bob tied for second at the 50th National Amputee Golf Championship shooting (74-76-77). In 2005 at Bethpage State Park, Bob finished in 7th Place at the National Championship (76-79-81). Bob has won 24 EAGA Championships including four Pennsylvania Amputee Championships and three Eastern Regional Amputee Championships. Bob served for five years (1995-2000) as the Consumer Representative on the Board of Directors of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). In 2000, Bob served as the Chairman of the Disability Access Committee for the U.S. Senior Open Golf Championship at Saucon Valley CC in Bethlehem, PA. The committee provided free scooters and shuttle service for disabled spectators. The 2000 Senior Open became the first USGA golf tournament to provide wheelchair/scooter viewing in the bleachers. The 2009 USGA Women’s Open was held at Saucon Valley CC and Bob was again honored to serve as Chairman of the Disabled Services Committee.
Bob has been recognized for his leadership and vision for helping start with Bob Wilson the National Amputee Golf Association’s “First Swing/Learn to Golf” Seminar & Clinic program for Rehab & Golf professionals and the Disabled Community. Good Shepherd Rehab Hospital, Allentown, PA was the site of the initial program 35 years ago. Hospital CEO Sally Gammon presented Bob with a Special Recognition Award at their Celebrity Golf Classic Dinner. To date, Bob has conducted over 525 “First Swing” Clinics, including programs with Disabled Sports USA for our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as well as with the Philadelphia VA & Lyons, NJ VA Hospitals.
In 1998, Bob was honored with his induction into Transylvania University’s Pioneer “Hall of Fame” in Lexington, KY for his college golf accomplishments (Low Scoring Average, two MVP Awards and Team Co-Captain) and his on-going work of bringing golf to people with disabilities. In 2006, Bob was selected to participate as a member on the USA Amputee Golf Team as they played the International Amputee Golf Team following the 59th National Amputee Golf Championship at Onion Creek GC in Austin, TX for the College Park Cup (Amputee Ryder Cup). The USA Team was victorious 14½ to 9½.
In 2007, Bob was honored at the “Pennsylvanians with Disabilities” Day celebrations. The PDD committee recognizes and celebrates individuals & organizations which demonstrate positive attitudes in the removal of barriers to the physically or mentally challenged. Bob was selected for his and EAGA’s continuing efforts to empower persons with disabilities to enjoy the game of golf and by doing so open a broad vista of possibilities in the other areas of life.
In 2008, Bob was selected to participate in a new initiative from the Department of Defense called “Inclusive Recreation for Wounded Warriors”. The four-day program was developed by Penn State University to educate and assist Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) Managers at our Military installations at home and abroad bring Sports & Leisure activities to our Wounded Warriors dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury & Amputation. Bob presented a personal perspective as an amputee and promoted the benefits of golf as a perfect sport for our wounded warriors. The program ran for seven years reaching 840 MWR Managers and concluded in 2015.
In 2015, Bob was asked to serve as Vice-Chairman of the newly formed United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA). Thirty-eight “Grass Roots” adaptive golf organizations including the EAGA that promote Adaptive Golf in the USA have joined the USAGA as members. The USAGA’s mission is to serve the special needs community and our disabled military veterans through their inclusion in the game of golf, including but not limited to access, instruction, and competition at all levels. The coalition started and grew from the desire of several parathlete golfers and adaptive golf organizations that were collectively frustrated by failed efforts to form one voice to speak and act nationally to bring adaptive golf to the disabled population and as a Paralympic sport to the Olympic Games.
In 2018, Bob was honor at his 50th College Reunion at Transylvania University with a “Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award” for the more than 34 years of introducing people with disabilities to the game of golf and helping them make a positive change in their life.Bob and his wife, Linda, who is the Secretary of EAGA, celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2020. During their life together, Linda received her college degree in Psychology (Moravian College – 1985) & her Master’s in Social Work (Marywood College – 1991). Now a retired LCSW, she has been a SoulCollage® Program facilitator, is an avid Mahjong player and grandmother extraordinaire. They have two grown daughters, Leigh Honeycutt Buck (49) and Jennifer Ann Knies (51) & her husband Eric and two grandchildren, Julia (17) and Austin (15). They currently reside in Bethlehem, PA.