Press release

Jachym Named Lifetime Member of PGA of America

Charleston, SC, 1994 - John Jachym of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Kratos, Inc., of San Diego and a member of the Chautauqua Golf Club, has been elected as an honorary lifetime member of the Professional Golfers' Association of America.

Jachym will join only five other PGA Honorary Lifetime Members. He was elected to this exclusive club by delegates to the PGA's 78th Annual Meeting in Charleston, SC. Jachym, 76, the PGA Advisory Committee Chairman and committee member since 1967, was a member of the PGA Board of Directors from 1989-1992.

"For more than 25 years, John has shared his business acumen in guiding the strategic direction of the PGA of America," said outgoing PGA of America President Gary Schaal. His impact on our Association has been immeasurable, and the PGA of America is proud to bestow an honorary lifetime membership on this very special individual."

Former President Gerald Ford, golf legend Gary Player, entertainer Bob Hope, trick-shot artist Dennis Walters and former PGA legal counsel Lloyd Lambert are the only other PGA Honorary Lifetime Members.

Jachym graduated from the University of Missouri in 1940 with a degree in journalism and later worked as a reporter for United Press International, the Jefferson City (MO) Observer and the Dunkirk (NY) Observer. As a longtime baseball fan, he was also a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals and a major stockholder of the Washington Senators.

Jachym later embarked on an investment banking career serving as head of corporate finance for Blunt, Ellis & Company, Chicago (1953-58), vice-president of A.G. Becker & Company, Chicago (1958-63), and senior partner of John J. Jachym & Company, Chicago from 1964-74. He served with Kratos, Inc., an international high technology instrumentation company from 1974-80.

Jachym was born May 9, 1918, in Ohio, and grew up on a farm in South Dayton, NY. He is a decorated World War II veteran who served with the U.S. Marines in the Battle of Guadalcanal and was awarded the Silver Star. Following World War II, he returned to Jamestown where he ran the Jamestown Falcons of the PONY League before becoming president of Chautauqua Enterprises and president of Jamestown Safety Guard.

Jachym and his wife, Audrey, have three children: James, Jacqueline and Janet; and five grandchildren.


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We gratefully acknowledge these individuals and organizations for their generous support.