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In later years his itinerary included the South Pacific. Bob began what was to become a Christmas custom in 1948. He, with wife Dolores, went to Germany at the request of then Secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington, to entertain the troops involved in the Berlin Airlift. With the end of the Vietnam conflict in sight, Hope hailed his 1972 trip as his "last Christmas show." But each Christmas that followed, he was somewhere in the country doing a show at a military base or veterans hospital. In 1983 the call came from Beirut and Hope was "on the road again." In 1987, Hope flew around the world to entertain servicemen and women in the Pacific. Atlantic and Indian Oceans and in the Persian Gulf. He embarked on a goodwill tour in May, 1990 to entertain military personnel stationed in England, Russia, and Germany. At Christmas that year, he and wife Dolores, were in Saudi Arabia entertaining the men and women of "Operation Desert Storm."  1994 was a good year for Bob. His "Bob Hope: The First 90 Years," produced by daughter Linda Hope, won an Emmy. And he returned to his native England for a personal appearance tour in June, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.1996 marked the publication of Bob's collection of Presidential humor called "Dear Prez, I Wanna Tell Ya", and in November, he aired his 296th television special for NBC, Bob Hope Laughing with the Presidents." The show featured appearances by President and Mrs. Clinton, President and Mrs. Bush, President and Mrs. Ford, Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower. Bob's co-host was Tony Danza. May 1997, New Orleans - Bob stood by as Dolores christened the USNS Bob Hope (AKR 300), the first of a new class of ships named after Bob. Not to be outdone, one month later the US Air Force dedicated a new C-17 in his name. (In 2001, the C-17 the 'Spirit of Bob Hope,' transported the pilots and crew of the reconnaissance plane downed in China back safe and sound to Hawaii.). Five times Bob has been honored by the United States Congress. But, in October 1997, Bob received one of his greatest tributes when Resolution 75 was unanimously passed by members of both houses making him an Honorary Veteran - the first individual so honored in the history of the United States. He was feted in the US Capitol Rotunda by members of congress, military personnel and veterans. The next day, Bob, family and friends were guests in the oval office for the signing of the resolution by President Clinton  Bob's next visit to Washington, D.C. was in May 2000 when he officially opened the Bob Hope Gallery of American Entertainment at the Library of Congress. In July 2001, the 'Pentagon' (US Army Adjutant General Corps) paid a visit to Bob Hope's home in Toluca Lake, California for the presentation of the Order of Horatio Gates Gold Medal for his life-long contributions toward maintaining the high morale of soldiers around the world. And on his 99th birthday, May 29, 2002; The Chapel at the Los Angeles National Cemetery was named The Bob Hope Veterans Chapel.

  Golf

Photo, left: Bob Hope with President and Mrs. Kennedy.

Bob is the ultimate sport fan. A boxer, a pool hustler, he also once owned part of the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Rams ("Both before they learned how to play their game" he says.) He loves football. On television, it was his tradition to introduce the AP All American Football Team on his Christmas special each year.) And it is always a treat for him to visit or watch his 'now' favorite team, The San Diego Chargers. BUT, golf is his game. He is an avid golfer and has been quoted as saying "Golf is my profession. I tell jokes to pay my green fees."  Bob is one of the foremost proponents of the game and has contributed immensely to the popularity of golf - as a participant, a spectator and as an author. His book, "Confessions of a Hooker," which spotlights the memorable moments of his more than fifty years of golfing, was on the New York Times 'best seller' list for 53 weeks. In prominent spots in his trophy room are: the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Golf Writer's Gold Tee Award and a PGA medal honoring him as "one of the three men who have done the most for golf." Most evident is a silver cup from Sports Illustrated commemorating his fifth hole-in-one fired at Butler National Golf Course in Oak Brook, Illinois. Since then he has added two more holes-in-one to his record at courses in Palm Springs. Enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame is a bas relief of his profile with a plaque that reads, "BOB HOPE - known by his nose, applauded for his humor, envied for his wit and loved by millions for his unselfish concern for all beings, Bob Hope is truly one-of-a-kind. He popularized golf to the unknowing, sponsored it for charity and played it for fun. Not a golf champion but a great champion of golf." Probably his greatest achievement in golf is the development and hosting of the Bob Hope/Chrysler Classic, a pro-am tournament held annually in Palm Springs, California. Now in its 44th year, the Classic draws the most famous pros and celebrity amateurs. A total charity effort, the Classic has raised over 35 million dollars for the Eisenhower Medical Center and 70 other deserving desert charities.

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