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MOUNDSVILLE - The late Roy Shreves, a well-known PGA golf professional and long-time greens superintendent at the Moundsville Country Club, is being remembered for his many years as a great mentor to countless young Ohio Valley golfers.
Shreves, 85, died Jan. 21 at WVU Reynolds Memorial Hospital.
Two longtime club members, Jim Wilson and Don DeNoon, said Shreves touched the lives of many golfers during his decades of service.
"Roy was a legend to any golfer in the valley," DeNoon said.
Shreves retired in 2002 after 37 years of work at the club. Prior to working there he also lived and worked at a Wisconsin course with his brother Gene where he played golf as an amateur, winning championships and setting records.
He also played in West Virginia Opens, often going up against PGA Hall of Fame member Sam Snead. During one famous match in 1967 at the Moundsville Country Club, Shreves nearly prevailed against Snead. The pair became good friends over the years and loved to reminisce about past matches.
DeNoon, who has been a member of the club for 70 years, remembers when Shreves came on board there in 1965.
"He was the essence of a true gentleman. In all the years I knew him, I never heard one negative comment about Shreves," DeNoon said.
Wilson said Shreves enjoyed being a mentor to young golfers.
"Being a golf pro is more than just teaching, it's giving members a good golf experience," Wilson said.
Wilson noted Shreves was a great influence on his son and his grandson, who went on to play for West Chester University on a golf scholarship.
"He influenced a lot of kids. He was a great influencer," Wilson said.
Shreves had aspirations of continuing a professional golf career. In 1960 he qualified for the PGA Tour and competed for a year. However, he ran out of money; back then people did not receive high-dollar contracts to play at first. He came home to his native city of Sistersville and got a job working as the assistant golf professional at the Par Mar Pines Golf Club in Parkersburg. Then two years later he became the Moundsville Country Club's head golf professional.
In 1973 Shreves was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After having a successful surgery to remove it, his doctors told him that he likely would never fully regain his balance and may not be able to play golf again. Although his balance was never quite the same, he was able to get back to work and on the golf course a few months later. This is when he decided to devote more time to teaching others the game.
Wilson noted Shreves' style of coaching was watching the youngsters' skills from afar. Then, if he noticed something, he would quickly drive to them in his golf cart and offer his tips. After that, he would retreat and give them space to practice.
"One of his joys was watching kids grow into great golfers," Wilson said.
Shreves was the son of the late James Arthur and Flossie Belle Rutter Shreves. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen Winters Shreves; his son, Jeff Shreves of Groveport, Ohio; his daughter, Brenda (Larry) Dobbs of St. Clairsville; a sister, May Rea of Sistersville; two grandchildren, Kayla Bopp and Kaitlyn Shreves; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by six brothers: Arthur, Homer, Herbert, Raymond, Bernard and Eugene Shreves; and four sisters: Carolyn Davis, Betty Louise Shreves, Ruth Billiter and Kathaleen Lough.
His funeral service was private. Memorial donations in his name can be made to the Moundsville Country Club, 128 Country Club Road, Moundville, WV 26041.