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 Julius "Julie" Bescos was president of both Virginia Country Club and the SCGA. He passed away at the age of 97 on May 23, 2009. Julius “Julie” Bescos, who passed away at the age of 97 on May 23, 2009, was such a man. Born in 1912 in San Pedro, Bescos was an athletic prodigy of sorts — he excelled in athletics to the point that both Stanford and the University of Southern California offered him full scholarships. Bescos settled on USC and became one of the school’s first three-sport stars, starring in football, basketball and baseball while collecting numerous honors along the way. He played with legendary football coach Howard Jones as well as the equally successful basketball coach Sam Berry. He even was a fraternity brother of Marion Morrison, who later went by the name of John Wayne. Bescos graduated in 1934 and was immediately welcomed into the university’s coaching ranks. With a busy schedule, it was only through the constant urging of a girlfriend that Bescos gave the game of golf a chance. On an afternoon trip to the now defunct Sunset Fields golf course, he happened upon a man with a sweet swing and struck the deal of a lifetime. The man was Lloyd Mangrum, and Bescos shrewdly negotiated a summer’s worth of golf lessons with the future U.S. Open champion for a season’s worth of passes to USC football games. It would not be the last time that Bescos’ good-natured personality and USC connections would open doors for him. A chance meeting with a movie producer led to a number of small parts in some very big Hollywood productions in the 1930s. He took a role in the film “College Humor” starring Bing Crosby and the two formed a lasting friendship. Bescos was invited to Crosby’s original “Clambake” golf tournament and was a regular participant in the event when Crosby was involved. Bescos continued to score roles in notable films including “Mutiny on the Bounty” and played alongside Hollywood luminaries such as Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney, Robert Young , Jimmy Stewart and Lionel Barrymore. Bescos was a member of the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a flight deck officer aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga. After returning from the war in 1946, he joined Virginia Country Club in Long Beach and became one of the most influential members ever, serving two terms as president and laying the groundwork for the Virginia Invitational — now known as The Virginian, one of the most renowned golf tournaments in Southern California. Bescos was a very good golfer, too — incredibly, he eagled all 18 holes at Virginia at least once. The former Virginia president also served as president of the Southern California Golf Association in 1962, helping the organization in its purchase of the Studio City property where its headquarters are today. Bescos is survived by his wife, Faye, and several family members. ALSO SEE: Long Beach’s Virginia Country Club celebrates 100-year anniversary |
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