During the early morning hours at Detroit Memorial Hospital on May 15, 1952, a baby boy was born 7lbs, 6oz. This baby boy was the first of seven children born of Eddie G. & Annie M. Proben (61+yrs married). They proudly named him, Thomas Edward Proben. Proben grew up in a Polish Catholic Parish, St. Robert Bellarmine located in S. Redford, a suburb of Detroit. Proben graduated from grade school there in 1966. Also, his two sisters and four brothers graduated in their respective years, too. All had 100% attendance for 8 years each because Dad, Proben said, “He went to work sick to pay for their education so, they are all going to school sick. Period”.

Junior High: John D. Pierce, S. Redford, Michigan
High School: Lee M. Thurston, S. Redford, Michigan
College: Schoolcraft Community College, Livonia, MI., Assoc. of Arts/ Gen. Studies
University: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI., Bach. of Science/Math/physics

Proben was introduced to golf by his Dad before the age of 10. Mr. Proben built his son, Tommy a 3-wood with “Tommy Proben” carved into the top of the head before the age of 5.  Mr. Proben built a real country club type of putting green instead of a swimming pool in his back yard. The Proben boys and girls all played 9-holes through the Summer months at Rouge Park Golf Club from ages 8-14 through the Detroit Free Press youth golf program. Thomas
started in the Detroit Free Press program when he was 13. It cost 50 cents to play 9-holes! At age 14, Proben played his first-ever regulation 18-holes at Warren Valley, a public golf course.  It was a private club in earlier years. Proben shot 93 and won his age group. It was Thomas’s first “W”! But, his brother, Bob brought home the 1 st Proben Championship Trophy Win!  Then, Proben learned more about the game of golf as a caddie at Western Golf and C.C., under the leadership of golf pro, Ray Bolo and caddie master, Jim “Red” Sieler.

After graduating from EMU in April ’75, Proben moved to Charleston, SC. in October to meet the ’38 Masters’ and ’39 PGA Champion, Mr. Henry G. Picard. Proben met Mr. Picard and grew a close friendship, playing over 400 rounds of golf with Mr. Picard. Proben went there for golf BUT G-O-D WHO SET THIS MEETING ALL UP HAD SOMETHING MO’ UP H-I-S SLEEVE THAN JUST GOLF! It’s now, the Easter/Passover Season of 1979, Proben’s Michigan golf buddy, Larry R. called Proben up and shared that he was going to get “Baptized” next Sunday in the Atlantic Ocean! Proben said to his friend, Larry, “I want to
follow JESUS! I want to get “Baptized’ as a man like JESUS did as a man.” And the rest is history: Proben was “Baptized’ with Larry in the Atlantic at the beach, Isle of Palms in Charleston, SC. Mrs. Picard, “Sunnie’ received JESUS in their TV -room later that year and Mr. Picard confirmed his FAITH in JESUS in his letter to me before the ’97 Masters’!

Thanks Bill Bright! {Campus for Christ}