San Diego Metropolitan - San Diego Scene

Golf legend William Earl Casper will be feted by San Diego Nice Guys as “Nice Guy of the Year” during an Oct. 6 dinner at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla.

Better known as Billy Casper, the native San Diegan started playing golf at the age of 5 and became one of the game’s greatest legends. During his professional career, he won national titles on three continents and is credited with more than 60 professional tournament championships. Among his many titles are winner of the U.S. Open, The Masters and the Canadian Open. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 and the PGA Hall of Fame in 1982.

“We are privileged to have Mr. Casper as our Nice Guy of the Year,” says Dennis Carroll, president of Nice Guys. “His achievements on the golf course are matched only by his generosity and caring for others in our community. He has been a long-time contributor to many community-based organizations in San Diego. We are especially pleased to be directing a portion of the proceeds from our event to his youth foundation, Billy’s Kids.”

Nice Guys was formed in 1979 to raise money for individuals and other nonprofit organizations that need “a hand up, not a hand out.” The nonprofit organization has no staff and is run entirely by dedicated volunteers.

“Every single dollar we raise goes to needy San Diegans,” says Jack Kelly, Nice Guy of the Year committee chair.

Past recipients of the award include Father Joe Carroll, Malin Burnham, Sheriff Bill Kolender, Frankie Laine, Ernest Hahn Sr., Gayle Wilson, Ron Blair, Mac Hudson and Joe Bauer, Gene Luth, Ron Fowler, John Lynch, Bob Breitbard and John Moores.

For more about the organization or dinner, call Archie Kuehn at (619) 692-1040 or Jack Kelly at (760) 942-3380.