Johnny Bulla died Sunday, December 7th, at the age of 89. Born in Newell, WV in 1914, the legendary Pro Golfer's career spanned nearly four decades. He was a Resident Celebrity in the Valley, having moved his family here in 1946. He helped design a dozen golf courses and won 42 Sectional titles, including 14 Arizona Opens. He was a member of The Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, and the Arizona Hall of Fame. He was a longtime friend and travel buddy of Sam Snead, runner-up in the Masters, U S Open, and twice in the British Open. He played 40 consecutive L.A. Opens, winning it in 1941. He was a man who could play golf as well left-handed as he could right. He was also a man of many "firsts". He was the first pro to endorse merchandise outside the pro shop, featuring Walgreen's Po-Do Ball and Sears Balls and clubs. He was the first Pro to fly his own plane, "The Golfer", a DC-3, piloting other touring Pros around the country. He was a pilot for Eastern Airlines, and started Arizona Airways, which later became Frontier Airlines. He was the first Pro to champion the rights and equality of other players. He played his first tournament at the age of 11, and won his last, the Southwest Senior Open, at the age of 71. After losing his sight to macular degeneration, he continued to walk 5 miles a day, and give occasional golf lessons at Ocotillo Golf Club. He worked hard at his golf game, but in life he was "The Natural". Living it to the fullest, he inspired family, friends and countless others with his unwavering philosophy: "Think about the next shot, not the last". He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Pauline. He is survived by two sisters, Miriam Dyer and Edith Albertson, son Robert Bulla and daughters Barbara Nash and Beverly Schjelderup, and his beloved grandchildren: John, Kristi and Bonnie Bulla, Kimberly Stewart, Kelly Nash, Alexander and Vanessa Schjelderup. Services will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 6300 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, on December 16th at 11am. Published in the Arizona Republic on 12/10/2003. The Arizona Republic Dec. 9, 2003 12:00 AM Golf lost one of its more legendary figures when Johnny Bulla died Sunday at local hospital. He was 89. Bulla, who lived in Chandler, was known as a golfing pioneer. He was the first pro to be paired with an African-American in a PGA event, the first to endorse off-course golf products and the first to fly himself to tournaments. "He loved golf, and he loved people," Bulla's son, Bob, said Monday. "He had a wonderful, sharp mind right up to the end, and he loved helping others. "When it came to golf, he was ahead of his time in many ways." Sam Snead, who died in May 2002, was one of Bulla's closest friends and a frequent traveling companion. Bulla's death leaves Byron Nelson, 91, as the only living golfer who played regularly on the PGA men's tour in the 1930s. Bob Bulla called his father's death "sudden and unexpected," adding that he recently underwent surgery to correct a colon problem and wasn't able to recover. Although he had failing eyesight for many years, Johnny Bulla continued to give lessons to friends at Ocotillo Golf Club, took daily walks and occasionally lifted weights. Bulla won 14 Arizona Opens, a record that still stands, including the first one in 1945, and he won a record 42 PGA sectional tournaments. On the tour, his only victory came in the 1941 Los Angeles Open. He was better known for finishing second in four major tournaments - twice in the British Open and once each in the Masters and U.S. Open. He was head pro at Camelback Golf Club when it became the first Valley course to allow African-American members - track star Jesse Owens and baseball pitcher Joe Black. "He got up in the morning, and everything in life was great," Bob Bulla said. "Sometimes he didn't always feel that way when he went to bed after a 3-putt, but by morning he was always raring to go again." Bulla was born in West Virginia on June 2, 1914. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. next Tuesday at All Saints' Episcopal Church, 6300 N. Central Ave.