Rodney Bliss Jr.

With nine state amateur golf championships to his credit, Rod Bliss Jr. compiled a record equaled by few in the nation. Born in 1912, this Omaha native graduated from Central High before heading east to Cornell University where he graduated in 1934.

Home from college in the summers, Rod won his first two Nebraska Amateur Championships following his sophomore and junior year’s in 1932 and ’33. In all, Bliss won the title six times (1932, 33, 34, 37, 40, and 48). The span of 16 years between his first and last championship is greater than any other past Nebraska champion.

Bliss also won the Nebraska Open before moving to Iowa where he won that state’s amateur championship three times, in 1951, ’55, and ’61. Thus, 29 years elapsed between his first state championship and his last. While living in Iowa, Bliss also added three Des Moines city titles to his trophy case.

While often a winner, Bliss also compiled an outstanding record of finishing second in a variety of events. He was the runner up in the 1933 NCAA championship, twice finished second in the Western Amateur, and was the second low amateur at the 1934 U.S. Open.

Bliss, who died at the age of 76, is survived by his wife Dorthea, daughter Barbara, and son Rod Bliss III.