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Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories of The King
About 40 miles east of Pittsburgh is the small town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the place Arnold Palmer called home. The world knew Palmer as The King. But the Palmer Latrobe knew was funnier, goofier, saltier, and less grandiose than the one justifiably loved around the globe. In Arnold Homespun Stories of the King, journalist, Latrobe resident, and accidental Palmer insider Chris Rodell draws upon over 100 interviews with the golf great conducted over 20 years, providing an intimate, charming, and at times irreverent glimpse at the icon outside the spotlight.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2018
5 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Chris Rodell
22 books43 followersChris Rodell is the author of "Evan & Elle in Heaven & Hell: A Long Distance Social Media Afterlife Love Story." His other books include, "Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories Of The King,” the quirky book about his oddball friendship with one of the planet’s most popular and beloved men; In addition, he's written “Use All The Crayons! The Colorful Guide To Simple Human Happiness,” and “The Last Baby Boomer: The Story of the Ultimate Ghoul Pool,” a novel that was bestowed the 2017 TINARA Award for Outstanding Satire. In Rodell’s career as a freelance writer, he has wrestled alligators, raced Ferraris, gone skydiving, lain on beds of nails, and gained twenty pounds in one week eating like Elvis. He blogs at www.EightDaysToAmish.com. He has written for many of the most prestigious magazines in America and been rejected by the rest. He lives in Latrobe, Pa., with his wife Valerie, their daughters, Josie and Lucy, and a small loud dog named Snickers. He will write for anyone who’ll pay him. He is a PROSEtitute.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 19, 2018
This is a book that golf fans, and in particular Arnold Palmer fans, will enjoy. The author, a Latrobe, Pennsylvania resident since 1992, interviewed more than 200 area neighbors and began each interview with a simple request: “Please tell me your best Arnold Palmer story.” Much of the book contains their answers to that question.
The author got to know Palmer when he was asked by ArnoldPalmer.com in 2005 to go through the boxes and assemble a day-by-day timeline of Palmer’s life. The book includes a part of that timeline, which Palmer fans will find of interest.
The author gives us a good understanding of what Latrobe is like. Correct that, though we have always heard that Palmer lived in Latrobe, he actually lived and died in neighboring Youngstown, a town of just 326 people.
Even though I’ve read several books by and about Palmer, the author gives us a unique look at him. He shows that he was really a great guy, just like we hope our sports heroes would be. He didn’t live in a gated community and incredibly would often answer the door of his home himself to sign an autograph or sign a photo for a fan. The book includes remembrances from CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, who spoke at Palmer’s memorial service in 2016, former Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and many others. We hear about the letters that Palmer would send people, spending an unbelievable $100,000 in postage annually to mail them. It is estimated that he signed well over a million autographs in his lifetime. The author, who writes with a good amount of wit, states that plastic surgeons are less careful suturing scars on supermodels than Palmer was when signing an autograph.
I enjoyed reading about three rainbows that appeared after Palmer’s death, just as one did the night my father-in-law died nearly two years ago. The first was when was the plane that carried Palmer’s ashes began its ascent, the second appeared during the Palmer’s memorial service and the third materialized at the June 25 Westmoreland County Airshow held in tribute to Palmer.
I read this book quickly, not wanting to put it down. It’s a funny, and at times quite touching tribute to the King.
The author got to know Palmer when he was asked by ArnoldPalmer.com in 2005 to go through the boxes and assemble a day-by-day timeline of Palmer’s life. The book includes a part of that timeline, which Palmer fans will find of interest.
The author gives us a good understanding of what Latrobe is like. Correct that, though we have always heard that Palmer lived in Latrobe, he actually lived and died in neighboring Youngstown, a town of just 326 people.
Even though I’ve read several books by and about Palmer, the author gives us a unique look at him. He shows that he was really a great guy, just like we hope our sports heroes would be. He didn’t live in a gated community and incredibly would often answer the door of his home himself to sign an autograph or sign a photo for a fan. The book includes remembrances from CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, who spoke at Palmer’s memorial service in 2016, former Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and many others. We hear about the letters that Palmer would send people, spending an unbelievable $100,000 in postage annually to mail them. It is estimated that he signed well over a million autographs in his lifetime. The author, who writes with a good amount of wit, states that plastic surgeons are less careful suturing scars on supermodels than Palmer was when signing an autograph.
I enjoyed reading about three rainbows that appeared after Palmer’s death, just as one did the night my father-in-law died nearly two years ago. The first was when was the plane that carried Palmer’s ashes began its ascent, the second appeared during the Palmer’s memorial service and the third materialized at the June 25 Westmoreland County Airshow held in tribute to Palmer.
I read this book quickly, not wanting to put it down. It’s a funny, and at times quite touching tribute to the King.
May 6, 2018
I’m not a golfer. I don’t watch golf. But the guys in my life watch and play. Anything I know about golf is from pure osmosis.
None of that matters because this book was still a pleasure to read. Everyone knows who Arnold Palmer, the legend, is. Now I feel like I know something about Arnold Palmer, the man.
This book is a veritable love-fest both for the King, and for his hometown, Latrobe, PA. The author shared a hometown with Arnold Palmer, and was honored to get to know him over the years while writing for Golf magazine. At his core, Arnold Palmer was a bit of a homebody. He loved his humble town and the people, and was happiest rooted right from where he came. When Chris Rodell asked him why he was still in Latrobe when he could live anywhere in the world, Mr Palmer told him , “This is the most beautiful place in the world. It has everything. It has mountains, fresh water, four beautiful seasons, and friendly people. I’ve been all over the world and have never found a place better than this.” I love that. I don’t know Latrobe, but I’m from Pennsylvania and I know the kind of town he’s talking about. It’s an anywhere-USA kind of small town.
Arnold Palmer was also apparently quite a people person. He didn’t put on airs. It didn’t matter if you were the President or a mechanic—he made time, was interested, and was just a good guy.
The author has a wealth of Palmer trivia. He talks about the courses Palmer played and the highlights of his career. I can’t wait to impress my husband or dad when I mention Arnie’s aces in two consecutive days. They will be astounded that I know that.
I loved the story about Chris playing a hole at Latrobe as Arnold watched, and keeping his cool as a car beeped it’s horn just as he was swinging. He later discovered it was the wife and kids trying to say hi. That gave me a chuckle.
This book is very well-written. It’s full of Chris Rodell’s trademark wit. It’s a real peep at the man behind the legend. This is quite a memorial to a man Chris clearly admired.
None of that matters because this book was still a pleasure to read. Everyone knows who Arnold Palmer, the legend, is. Now I feel like I know something about Arnold Palmer, the man.
This book is a veritable love-fest both for the King, and for his hometown, Latrobe, PA. The author shared a hometown with Arnold Palmer, and was honored to get to know him over the years while writing for Golf magazine. At his core, Arnold Palmer was a bit of a homebody. He loved his humble town and the people, and was happiest rooted right from where he came. When Chris Rodell asked him why he was still in Latrobe when he could live anywhere in the world, Mr Palmer told him , “This is the most beautiful place in the world. It has everything. It has mountains, fresh water, four beautiful seasons, and friendly people. I’ve been all over the world and have never found a place better than this.” I love that. I don’t know Latrobe, but I’m from Pennsylvania and I know the kind of town he’s talking about. It’s an anywhere-USA kind of small town.
Arnold Palmer was also apparently quite a people person. He didn’t put on airs. It didn’t matter if you were the President or a mechanic—he made time, was interested, and was just a good guy.
The author has a wealth of Palmer trivia. He talks about the courses Palmer played and the highlights of his career. I can’t wait to impress my husband or dad when I mention Arnie’s aces in two consecutive days. They will be astounded that I know that.
I loved the story about Chris playing a hole at Latrobe as Arnold watched, and keeping his cool as a car beeped it’s horn just as he was swinging. He later discovered it was the wife and kids trying to say hi. That gave me a chuckle.
This book is very well-written. It’s full of Chris Rodell’s trademark wit. It’s a real peep at the man behind the legend. This is quite a memorial to a man Chris clearly admired.
August 18, 2025
Great book with a treasure of unheard stories about the amazing Arnold Palmer and the town he loved.
November 24, 2020
Along with a great golfer, Arnold Palmer was, first of all, a great person. Not only in the eyes of the world but in the eyes of God. The heavens were graced with a rainbow on the day his ashes were scattered, God smiled.
I wish I could have met him, but reading of him was to bring him closer. I walked alongside him in his triumphs and defeats, the good times and the bad, and felt his warm personality and love he had for all. I mourn his passing. He lives on in his good works.
I wish I could have met him, but reading of him was to bring him closer. I walked alongside him in his triumphs and defeats, the good times and the bad, and felt his warm personality and love he had for all. I mourn his passing. He lives on in his good works.
February 7, 2022
You don't have to be a golf fan or an Arnold Palmer fan to enjoy this book, although being both helps to make it very enjoyable. A very enjoyable book about a great person and a great golfer, in that order. And also about a great town, Latrobe, PA. I've been to Latrobe many times but never had the fortune of running into Mr. Palmer on my visits. Thanks to Chris Rodell, I now feel like I met the man and even got to know him. Fun read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews