Inducted, 1991

Tee Branca, Utah golf's Mr. Gentleman, has set an example in golf professionalism that has become the standard of excellence among his peers.

He has been the head professional at The Country Club for 46 years and during those years he has played a significant role in helping develop the club into what it is today, one of the finest country clubs in the nation. The membership is constantly changing, but Tee has remained the constant. His personality, his love of golf and people, coupled with his gentility, has been an unchanging hallmark at the club. New members quickly sense the tone set by Tee and it permeates throughout the club. The tone, if it were to be labeled, is gentlemanly conduct.

Tee became a professional in 1929 at the age of 18 when he was hired as an assistant at The Country Club by then head professional Alex McAfferty. He left The Country Club in 1936 to become the head professional at the Fort Douglas Club.

He served in the army in 1942 and 1943 and then was hired at The Country Club as the head professional on March 7, 1944.

He had an outstanding playing record during his young years. His concentration on being a club professional limited his playing achievements, but they are still impressive.

He won the Utah State Parks Tournament four times, won the Utah Copper Open in a sudden death playoff over George Schneiter in 1942, tied for the Utah Open Championship in 1938, but lost in a playoff. He was the low qualifier in the U.S. Open Sectional in 1940 and 1955, won the Rocky Mountain PGA Championship in 1953, and won the Utah State Long Drive Contest in 1955.

He was born June 30, 1912 in Challis, Idaho. He married Cleo Epperson, an outstanding golfer in her own right, and a former Utah Women's Champion. She passed away in 1990. They have two children, Ron and Don, both of whom have followed in their father's footsteps as outstanding golf professionals. Don won the Utah State Amateur Championship twice, and Ron is the head golf coach at The University of Utah.

While Tee Branca's golf record, both on the course and in professional service, speaks for itself, for those who know him he will be remembered more for his personal character and demeanor. He is respected and appreciated by his friends as a soft-spoken, impeccably polite and well mannered, well groomed, soft-hearted, gracious gentleman.