I just returned last week from an event in the Midwest that I provide athletes for each year. This year’s lineup included football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett and baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson. And while both did a great job and received rave reviews, the person who stole the show was someone named Butch Lumpkin.
Lumpkin wasn’t a professional athlete and didn’t have the name recognition of Dorsett and Dawson, but he’s the one that left the biggest impression. You see, Lumpkin was born with virtually no arms, yet he’s a single-digit handicap golfer, plays tennis better than most and skis black diamonds. The word “can’t” isn’t in his vocabulary.
At the event, Lumpkin put on both a tennis and golf clinic and left everyone in awe of his ability. During the golf tournament, he also drove around the course hitting tee shots with the golfers. He out drove the vast majority of participants.
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Lumpkin’s disability was a result of his mother taking the drug Thalidomide while she was pregnant to combat morning sickness. He is one of approximately 5,000 survivors world-wide. Born with what he calls “short arms,” Lumpkin really has what amounts to no functional arms at all. Yet he hasn’t let this stop him from excelling in athletics.
After college, tennis became his passion and he dreamed of someday turning pro. After earning his certification by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association, he became a full-time tennis pro at Horseshoe Bend Country Club. Soon after, he took up golf and succeeded at that sport as well. He even has a hole in one to his credit.
Thanks to a segment about him on the Golf Channel, Lumpkin is starting to make a name for himself. He is an accomplished motivational speaker and Christian speaker and conducts golf demonstrations at schools, businesses, churches, tournaments and men’s retreats. If you’re looking for someone to inspire and motivate your group, you should consider Lumpkin. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
