Arnold Palmer joined the ranks of George Washington, Charles Lindbergh, Gen. George C. Marshall,  President Truman, Winston Churchill, Jesse Owens, Dr. Jonas Salk, Roberto Clemente and Neil Armstrong when he received the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday.

Not bad company for the Latrobe-area youngster who waited in the weeds near the sixth hole of the Latrobe Country Club so that he could hit golf balls over a ditch for the women golfers in return for the princely sum of a nickel. That was good money in those Depression-era days for the son of the country club’s professional golfer.

“To have the Congress of the United States agree on something, I'd like to think I brought them all together,” Palmer said Wednesday.

Speaking on Monday at his new SpringHill Suites Pittsburgh Latrobe hotel off Route 30 in Unity, the legendary golfer said he was humbled by the honor.

“I’m a little nervous about it,” Palmer said during a news conference marking a grand-opening celebration of the hotel, which happened to coincide with Palmer’s 83rd birthday.

Palmer received the medal in ceremonies in the Rotunda of the nation’s Capitol from congressional leaders of both Republican and Democratic parties. Fellow golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who was Palmer’s rival during their heyday on the professional golf tour,  participated in the ceremony.

Congress approved Palmer as a recipient of the award on Sept. 30, 2009, according to the House of Representatives website. In a rare show of bipartisanship, at least two-thirds of the House of Representatives gave approval, and at least 67 senators cosponsored the legislation before a Senate committee even considered it.

The Congressional Gold Medal is bestowed upon individuals, institutions or events by Congress as its “highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions,” according to the House of Representatives.

More than 200 people have received the medal.

Palmer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2004.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is bestowed on those who have made especially meritorious contributions to the national interests of the United States, to world peace or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors, according to the White House.

Palmer celebrated his birthday in grand style. Three hundred people – family, friends, business associates and community leaders — joined the festivities to celebrate the new Marriott-brand hotel, which opened in June.

The 109-room hotel has been well-received, Palmer said.

“I’m hoping that business is so good that we have to expand,” Palmer said, without speculating when that might occur.

Palmer, who owns the nearby Latrobe Country Club, said he wanted to couple the country club with a place for people to stay while visiting the area.

“It was something I dreamed about a long time ago. If we had a hotel that would work in conjunction with the country club, that would be great,” Palmer said.

Having ownership in a country club, hotel and a car dealership in Unity, Palmer said he is not looking to expand into any other business venture in the region.

“I don’t like to run too fast. I get out of breath and have to catch up,” he quipped.

This article was written by Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE.