A competitor, with a simple philosophy: “the objective is to win.” That describes Burleigh Jacobs. A multiple letter winner in basketball and golf, the feisty Jacobs would go on to become a Wisconsin golf legend. As a forward on the basketball team his fierce determination, skills, and intelligence made him the ‘go to’ man on the court. His aggressive attitude made him a force to be reckoned with under the boards. Many an opponent rued the day they tried to outfight Jacobs for a rebound or loose ball. His patience, discipline, and determination provided the foundation for the team’s efficient, methodical offense. A 1938 All Conference selection, Jacobs led the Tosa team to a runner-up finish in the State Basketball Tournament. It was on the golf course where Jacobs really put his focus, his quiet self-confidence to good use. By the time he had reached high school, Jacobs was well known in the state having won multiple junior titles. Honing his skills to develop a high, little draw that almost always ended up in the fairway, Jacobs was unbeatable in high school. In 1938, he not only won the Conference Golf Championship, he won the State Golf Championship and the Tri-State Championship as well. A January graduate in 1938, while most of his classmates were still completing the spring semester, Jacobs became known nationally as ‘the giant killer’ for defeating a 21 year old National Publinx champion, who was the strong pre-tournament favorite, on his way to winning the National Championship of Club Champions. Jacobs attended the University of Wisconsin and after returning from World War II he put his golf game on hold to concentrate on his family and his business. Jacobs began playing competitive golf in the 1950’s winning multiple championships. He was named to the Wisconsin State Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1970.
