PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Nov. 4, 2004 – Patrick Rielly of La Canada, Calif., the 26th president of The PGA of America, has been named as the 10th honoree of The Legends of The PGA program. Rielly was honored Nov. 6 at The PGA of America's 88th Annual Meeting in Amelia Island, Fla.

Rielly, 69, a PGA member since 1966, served as PGA President from 1988-90, and applied both counsel and vision to become a respected leader in the golf industry. Established in 1995, The Legends of The PGA program honors past PGA Presidents for their contributions to the Association and the golf industry.

A native of Farrell, Pa., Rielly took office at a time of the golf "boom" in the U.S., and when The PGA of America was advancing its business leadership in the industry through the expansion of network TV golf contracts, the growing PGA Merchandise Show and the birth of PGA Golf Properties.

"Pat Rielly served our Association during critical times of change that swept golf into the current popularity it enjoys today," said PGA of America President M.G. Orender. "We are indebted to PGA Professionals like Pat, who never wavered in applying strength of conviction and courage in making difficult decisions. We are most pleased that his legacy is now part of the Legends of The PGA Program."

A native of Farrell, Pa., Rielly began his career in golf as a caddie at Sharon (Pa.) Country Club. He became a member of high school team and later played at Penn State University, where he graduated in 1958. He would then serve as first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1958 to 1962, and achieved the rank of captain of the Marine Reserves before beginning his professional golf career in 1962 as an assistant at Circle R Ranch & Golf Course in Escondido, Calif. From 1963 to 1972, Rielly served as PGA Head Professional and later general manager at El Camino Country Club in Oceanside, Calif.

In 1972, Rielly became PGA Head Professional at Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena, Calif., and remained at the club until his retirement in April 2002.

Rielly was PGA President during the 1990 PGA Championship at Shoal Creek Country Club in Birmingham, Ala., a watershed moment in golf history. This resulted in The PGA leading an industry change to conduct championships at golf clubs that did not restrict membership based on race, gender or other considerations.

Rielly's term also featured the early development of PGA Golf Properties, which was founded to allow the Association to develop new facilities to help grow the game. Rielly also was instrumental in the growth of the former Southern California PGA Merchandise Show, which was subsequently purchased by The PGA of America and today is know as the PGA Fall Expo.

Through Rielly's nearly 40 years in professional golf, he brought to his work leadership, fairness and a strong sense of understanding to issues and to serving his fellow PGA Professionals.

The success of the Association to present its major spectator events on national television also found its spark during Rielly's term as PGA president. The Association hired professional negotiators to assist The PGA in handling network contracts for such major spectator events as the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup Matches and the Senior PGA Championship.

Rielly was recipient of the 1983 national Bill Strausbaugh Award for distinguished work in mentoring fellow PGA Professionals to improve their employment situations. Through his leadership in the Southern California PGA Section, Rielly was a three-time winner of the Section Golf Professional of the Year Award, as well as a Horton Smith Award winner for improving PGA education programs. Rielly served as Section president (1971-73) and was a Section board member for 11 years. In 1992, he was inducted into the Southern California PGA Hall of Fame.

Rielly, and his wife, Sue, are the parents of four children: a daughter, Susie Rielly Morey, who is a sales manager for Tehama Golf; a son, Rick, who is PGA Director of Golf at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles; a son, Mike, who is a senior vice president for International Management Group-Japan; and a daughter, Maggi Puchalski, whose husband Jeff is manager and part-owner of two golf resorts in Vietnam -- Ocean Dunes Golf Resort, north of Saigon, and Dalat Palace Golf Club in the central highlands city of Dalat.

The PGA of America, founded in 1916, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.

Legends of The PGA Honorees:
1995: Max Elbin, Bethesda, Md. - PGA President 1966-68
1996: Warren Orlick, Birmingham, Mich. - PGA President 1971-72
1997: William Clarke, Phoenix, Md. - PGA President 1973-74
1998: Henry Poe, High Point, N.C. - PGA President 1975-76
1999: Don Padgett, Pinehurst, N.C. - PGA President 1977-78
2000: Joe Black, Carefree, Ariz. - PGA President 1981-82
2001: Mark Kizziar, Scottsdale, Ariz. - PGA President 1983-84
2002: Mickey Powell, Carmel, Ind. - PGA President 1985-86
2003: James Ray Carpenter, Hattiesburg, Miss. - PGA President 1987-88
2004: Patrick J. Rielly, La Canada, Calif. - PGA President 1988-90