Longtime Metro Parks and Recreation golf professional Ronald Hickman died Tuesday night after a brief battle with cancer. He was 81.
Before embarking on his golf career in 1964, Hickman was an outstanding football player at East High and Tennessee Tech.
As a starting blocking back on offense and linebacker on defense, Hickman helped East win the 1953 Clinic Bowl before moving on to Tennessee Tech, where he was a starting offensive guard.
Hickman helped Tech win the 1955 Ohio Valley Conference football championship.
He also played golf at Tech and helped the Golden Eagles win the OVC title in 1955 and 1958.
HIckman has been nominated for the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
In 1964 Hickman went to work for his father, Luther, who was the pro at Shelby Golf Course at the time.
In 1973, Hickman moved to Two Rivers, which had just been built, and in 1988 he replaced Luther as the pro at McCabe.
Hickman retired in 2004.
He was a 50-year member of the Professional Golf Association and a charter member of the Capital City Golf Association, which began in 1960.
Visitation is scheduled for 2-8 p.m. Friday and 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home in East Nashville. A celebration of life will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
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Longtime Metro Parks and Recreation golf professional Ronald Hickman died Tuesday.