JOE WALSER

May 14, 1932 - May 10, 2012 DALLAS, TX Joe Wallace Walser Jr, 79, died peacefully on Thursday, May 10, 2012, in Dallas, Texas, with his family by his side, after a valiant fight against Alzheimers Disease. Joe was born May 14, 1932, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Joe Wallace Walser Sr and Grace Helen Whitten Walser and was raised in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1950, where he played on the golf team, winning three State Championships. He received a full scholarship to Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State University, where his team, coached by Labron Harris Sr, won several Conference Championships. Joe went on to win 25 amateur/professional tournaments, including the Oklahoma State Amateur and The Oklahoma Open. While in high school, he found the love of his life in Patricia Irene "Pat" Eubanks Walser, and they were married on June 7, 1953, in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M with a Bachelor in Education. Joe served in the U.S. Army at Ft Benning, Georgia, and Ft Riley, Kansas, as a 1st Lieutenant. Having begun his golf career at age 14, caddying for his dad, Joe turned pro in 1954 and joined the PGA Tour. He soon became a legendary part of golf in the United States. Joes remarkable early career includes Oklahomas Altus Country Club, Quail Creek Country Club, Lake Hefner Golf Course, and Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. He served as President of the South Central Section of the PGA of America for two consecutive years, served two terms on the PGA of America Board of Directors, and later was chief operating officer for PGA Tour Golf Course Properties, Inc., based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for four years. In 1971, he and longtime friend and golf associate, Ernie Vossler, formed Unique Golf Concepts, Inc. (later known as Landmark Land). Joe and Pat moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, as they developed the prestigious Oak Tree Golf Club. By 1974, Joe had begun developing courses with Gerald Barton in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, California. He and Pat moved to La Quinta, California, permanently in the early-1980s. By the mid-1980s, Joes talent in the sport and business of golf earned him international recognition, through Landmarks "Oak Tree" logo, creating and operating extraordinary "master planned" golf communities: In August 1997, Golf Illustrated Magazine described Joe and Ernie as "two of the most important golf developers in the world."Joe Walser, Jr was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Pat, who died in 2009.He is survived by his children: Steven Craig "Steve" Walser and fiancee April W Davis of Tequesta, Florida; Susan Carol "Susie" Walser Cranston and husband John Thomas "Jake" Cranston Jr of Dallas, Texas; Jeffrey Lynn "Jeff" Walser and wife Kari Berg Walser of LaQuinta, California; his brother, Terry Allen Walser and wife Carolyn Fritcher Walser of Edmond, Oklahoma; nephew, Mackenzie Allen "Mack" Walser of Edmond, Oklahoma; grandchildren: Lacey Leigh French (Mrs. Jason) Brown of Scottsdale, Arizona; Joe W Walser III and Steven Craig Walser Jr. of Jupiter, Florida; John Thomas "Johnny" Cranston III and Catherine Patricia Cranston of Dallas, Texas; Travis Jeffrey Walser and Courtney Lee Walser of La Quinta, California; and also Mattison Mackenzie "Mattie" French and Taylor Whitney French of The Woodlands, Texas; one infant great-granddaughter, Adelaide Grace Brown of Scottsdale, Arizona; godchildren: Nikki Gill Gatch and Joey Gill of La Quinta, California; his longtime, loyal friends and golf partners: Ab Justice and wife Robbie Justice of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Alsie Hyden of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; along with many other relatives and friends.A loyal friend, trustworthy business partner; honest competitor; respected mentor; loving and supportive son, brother, husband and father, Joe will be very deeply missed by those who were touched by his remarkable life. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 1 p.m. at Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church, Palm Desert, California, under the direction of Fitzhenry-Wiefels Funeral Home in Indio, California, with interment at Coachella Valley Cemetery, Coachella, California. An Oklahoma City area Memorial Celebration of Joes life is pending at a later date. Memorials may be made to The Alzheimers Research Foundation.

Published in The Oklahoman on 5/13/12.