targeting the notables and quotables of kansas city
Surely, somewhere, Jim Colbert has been featured in the classic headline, "Kansas Boy Makes Good" - even though he was born in New Jersey. Transported to Kansas on a football scholarship, Colbert graduated from K-State with one of those degrees (political science) about which his parents probably anxiously asked, "So what are you going to do with that anyway?" He never had to answer that burning question after he earned his PGA playing card in 1965: he's played golf.
There is arguably no better life than when a passion turns into a life-long career. For over 36 years, Jim Colbert has played on the PGA Tour, built and managed golf facilities, or since 1991, played on the Senior Tour. His career earnings do make most of us gasp - over $11 million for this time span and he's #2 on the all-time Money List for Seniors and #6 for combining both tours. The number of victories is also impressive - eight PGA victories and twenty Senior Tour victories.
Prior to joining the Senior Tour, he not only ran his own golf course management company with friend and ally Ron Fogler, but he also spent several years as a color analyst for ESPN golf telecasts. Colbert gave up his Kansas City home (he lived here from 1952 to 1974) for Las Vegas but retains his Kansas ties, especially to K-State. There he helped the school formulate a golf management program and designed and constructed a world class golf course, Colbert Hills, which demonstrates his loyalty to Fogler with a monument on the 10th hole, and his devotion to the future of the sport and improving kids' lives with a First Tee facility.
Jim married his high school sweetheart, Marcia, and they've had three daughters. Often, one of his six grandkids will caddy for him. With a happy and productive life on and off the golf course, he surely figured out how to make a living.