William H. Lane sat silently next to Clifford Roberts.
It was the day before the 1976Masters Tournament — the 40th playing of the event — when Roberts announced he was retiring as chairman of Augusta National Golf Club. Roberts had commanded the tournament since its inception in 1934 but, at 81, the Wall Street stockbroker had found his heir.
“He is the right age,” Roberts said of Lane, 52. “I think we can expect him to last at least another 25 years. That won't match my record of 42 years, but it is adequate and I'll settle for it.”
Two years into his role, Lane was replaced.
Two years after that, on June 28, 1980, the second chairman of Augusta National died.
Who was William H. Lane?
At the 1976 chairman’s news conference, Roberts and Lane sat together on the press room stage. Roberts had given no hints of the impending announcement, and it was handled in typical Roberts’s fashion.
As he made public he was stepping down, Roberts clenched his iron fist as questions began. One of the first inquiries was directed to Lane, who didn’t say a word. Seconds later, Roberts informed the press that his successor would not speak.
“I’m not going to call on Bill,” Roberts said, “because I’m the chairman of this tournament until its conclusion.”
