Liberty National Golf Club co-founder celebrated for lifelong impact
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Paul Fireman was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in recognition of his time spent caddying as a young man and its influence on his professional success and love of the game of golf.
Fireman was honored during the Shine the Light Gala at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. More than 130 guests were in attendance, including broadcaster Jimmy Roberts, who emceed the event.
“It’s our great privilege to welcome Paul Fireman as the newest member of the Caddie Hall of Fame,” said Jeff Harrison, senior vice president of advisory and special initiatives at the Western Golf Association, which administers the Caddie Hall of Fame. “His early experience in the caddie yard became a steppingstone to many extraordinary professional achievements, and we are inspired by his commitment to supporting the next generation of young men and women both on and off the golf course.”
Fireman grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts, and began caddying at Thorny Lea Golf Club at age 10. He notably went on to lead Reebok as chairman and CEO for nearly 30 years, was the former CEO of Willowbend Development and is the co-founder of Liberty National Golf Club with his son, Dan.
“Caddying taught me lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life — the value of hard work, humility, and it became a social way of connecting people together. Those early mornings at Thorny Lea shaped my love for the game and set me on a path that I could never have imagined,” said Fireman. “To be recognized by the Caddie Hall of Fame is deeply meaningful, and I’m grateful for the chance to give back through Liberty National and our foundations, helping to open doors for future generations of caddies whose journeys are just beginning.”
Through Liberty National Golf Club, Fireman continues his strong advocacy for youth caddies. As host of the 2027 BMW Championship, the Club will play an integral role in supporting the tournament’s sole charitable beneficiary, the Evans Scholars Foundation, which awards full housing and tuition college scholarships to youth caddies nationwide.
He and his wife, Phyllis, also established The Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation in 1985, and in 2024, Fireman and his son, Dan, launched the Liberty National Foundation to support adolescents, veterans, first responders and the local community through the game of golf.
Administered by the WGA since 2011, the Caddie Hall of Fame highlights the tradition and importance of caddying by celebrating individuals who have devoted their lives to the game of golf through caddying or by supporting the role of caddies, and those who have used their experience as a youth caddie for future professional success.
The Caddie Hall of Fame was created by the Professional Caddies Association in 1999. Since its inception, more than 130 men and women have been inducted into the CHOF. Past inductees include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Charles “Chick” Evans, Jim “Bones” Mackay, Steve Williams, Joe LaCava, Charles Schwab, Peter Ueberroth and Jimmy Roberts.