Public Memorial Service To Be Held For Arnold Palmer

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Golf legend Arnold Palmer was deeply beloved in Pennsylvania.

A memorial ceremony is scheduled for next Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. Capacity will be limited.

Palmer died Sunday in Pittsburgh at the age of 87. 

The plans were announced by Alastair Johnston, the CEO of Arnold Palmer Enterprises, during a news conference Monday at Latrobe Country Club.

People who want to pay tribute to Arnold were encouraged to pay their respects at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve in Latrobe.

Johnston says the last thing Palmer would want is for a golf schedule to be interrupted.

He says the funeral will be later this week and limited only to family.

The people in Palmer's hometown of Latrobe are in mourning. Given his immense wealth and success, he could have lived anywhere in the world, but he chose to stay in the place where he grew up and raised his family.

Flags were flying at half-staff at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport for an American original and the man the facility is named after. A wreath and flowers were at the feet of Palmer's statue outside the airport terminal, placed there by individuals who loved and respected the American icon.

Gabe Monzo met Palmer when he was 15 years old in the restaurant at Palmer's country club. He now runs the airport named after his life-long mentor and friend.

"The biggest thing about Mr. Palmer was he was a person that would talk to a king or a queen on Monday, then be down in Youngstown talking to a couple of mill guys or coal miners and still have the same attitude toward them as he did with everybody," Monzo said.

"He could get you revved up, he could get you motivated, he knew how to do that, and he was a great leader and he was a good man," Monzo added.

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