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A RESOLUTION recognizing and honoring Representative Al Gentry for his 1
leadership in the creation and success of state, national, and international golfer 2
associations for golfers with disabilities. 3
WHEREAS, Alan Joseph Gentry was born and raised in southwest Jefferson 4
County and learned a strong work ethic at an early age; and 5
WHEREAS, Al Gentry graduated from Bishop David High School in 1982 and 6
earned a bachelor of science in geology from the University of Louisville in 1988; and 7
WHEREAS, in 1993 at the age of 28, Al Gentry was pursuing post -graduate work 8
at the University of Kentucky, and while working as a hydrogeologist he was involved in 9
a tragic workplace dri lling accident that caused the loss of his dominant right arm above 10
his elbow; and 11
WHEREAS, while still in his hospital bed recovering from the accident, Al Gentry 12
was introduced to amputee golf by the local one -armed golfing legend, Don Fightmaster; 13
and 14
WHEREAS, reliant on the foundational work ethic and his motto of "Never Quit," 15
Al Gentry returned to the workforce and began competing in golf events for amputee 16
athletes; and 17
WHEREAS, Al Gentry founded the Kentucky Amputee Golf Association in 1994, 18
which later began operating as the Amputee Golf Charities, and continues to host annual 19
golf tournaments to promote adaptive golf for individuals with physical, visual, or 20
intellectual disabilities; and 21
WHEREAS, in 2000, alongside Don Fightmaster, Scott Luck, and Bill Frey, Al 22
Gentry founded the North American One -Armed Golfer Association (NAOAGA). He 23
served as the president of the association from 2001 to 2008 and continues to serve as a 24
lifetime board member; and 25
WHEREAS, in 2008, the NAOAGA, along with the Society of One -Armed Golfers 26
in Europe, established the Fightmaster Cup, a Ryder Cup style competition between 27
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North America and Europe; and 1
WHEREAS, in 2014, Al Gentry was the driving force to create the United States 2
Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) to unite the variety of local, state, and national 3
organizations working with golfers with disabilities to form an alliance to generate one, 4
large, collective, and consistent voice; and 5
WHEREAS, in 2019, Al Gentry co -authored the USAGA's Ranking and 6
Competition Standards Manual providing the country's first published standards for 7
golfers with disabilities. Al Gentry was the sole creator of the United States Adaptive 8
Golf Rankings which is the current system for classi fying athletes with disabilities based 9
on their disability impairment using 15 different sport classes and providing a net ranking 10
system incorporating the USAGA standards; and 11
WHEREAS, in 2020, Al Gentry and the USAGA Competition Ranking Committee 12
created a course conditions adjustment for rounds of golf played in difficult conditions 13
for the adaptive ranking system. Gentry's methodology was recognized by the United 14
States Golf Association and integrated into their own handicap system used by all golfers 15
in the United States; and 16
WHEREAS, in 2022, Al Gentry was inducted into the Eastern Amputee Golf 17
Association Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership and dedication to promoting 18
amputee golf, supporting disabled golfers, and his individual skill in golf; and 19
WHEREAS, Al Gentry has made an impact in the world of golf for all golfers and 20
especially for golfers with disabilities where he has implemented his "never quit" motto 21
to provide an accessible, fair, and competitive sport for all individuals; 22
NOW, THEREFORE, 23
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 24
Kentucky: 25
Section 1. The Senate does hereby recognize and honor Representative Al 26
Gentry for his contributions to the sport of golf for all athletes and golfers with 27
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disabilities. 1
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmi t a copy of this 2
Resolution to Senator Matt Nunn for delivery to Representative Al Gentry. 3