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From Murder Incorporated to the PGA Tour: The Remarkable Untold Story of Charlie "The Bug" Workman & His Son PGA Pro Chuck Workman
America's most notorious Jewish hit man was Charlie "The Bug" Workman. His media legacy was that he killed the infamous Jewish Mob Boss, Dutch Schultz in 1935. However, his true legacy was much different than the "killer/thug/hoodlum" reputation that the general-public was fed.
First and foremost, behind prison walls for 24 years, his top priority was keeping his beloved son Chuck out of the mob. As he told his mob contingent, "Anyone who tries to bring my son into this life, will answer to me when I get out."
Due to his street reputation as a man of respect and honor in and outside the mob world, he accomplished just that. He kept his promise to the only child he had. How he managed to do that is something legends are made of.
Now at 83 years old, Chuck Workman is ready to tell the undisputed, unvarnished truth, putting an end to many questions about his father's life and all about his own. In his riveting memoir, "From Murder Incorporated to the PGA Tour" he pulls back the veil on the man beyond the myth, exposes some hidden inner-workings of the Combination Mob and Sicilian Mafia and dives in to grave detail on how the most feared gangsters this country has ever known, led him to a straight, legitimate life as a PGA Golfer and Entrepreneur. It becomes obvious how the murder of Dutch Schultz may very well have been the best thing that ever happened to him.
From behind prison walls, Charlie paved a path for his son, steering him away from a mobster's life toward success and honor. He and his wife, Katie, relied heavily on people that loved and respected them to assist in this daunting task, including orchestrating a clever 7-year ruse to convince Chuck that his father was serving in the Navy during World War II rather than serving time at a New Jersey state prison.
Although, it was Jewish gangsters who lent a hand during those seven years, the real men pulling the strings and making sure Charlie's wishes were adhered to were the most powerful Sicilians/Italian mobsters this country has ever known: Joe Bonanno, Albert Anastasia, Frank Costello, Gyp DeCarlo, Willie Catone, Willie Rubini and at the top of the list, Chuck's actual godfather, Charlie "Lucky" Luciano.
If it weren't for these men taking such good care of him while his dad was in prison for nearly 24 years, Chuck would never have become a renowned golf pro, who revived the now-revered Bethpage course and played on the PGA Senior Tour from 1985-1995. It was their guidance that led him there.
Chuck does not deny nor dramatize who and what these men were as mobsters, especially his father. However, he reveals a side to them that most people have not heard about or cared to discuss. Chuck is one of the first to ever pay homage to the good side of these legendary mobsters.
Despite their best efforts, Chuck grew up wondering whether he was a bad guy or a good guy. After his father's release from prison in 1964, Chuck slowly realized that his dad wasn't what the media made him out to be. The respect he earned was because of who he was as person, not what he did for a living.
Even though Chuck's father took some of his secrets to his grave, Chuck uncovers the truth in his own ways. He learned the real reason why Benny Siegel - a childhood friend of his father's- was whacked, the hidden agenda of Thomas Dewey, the truth about the deaths of such gangsters as Long Zwillman, Lepke Buchalter, Albert Anastasia and the like.
To say this memoir is unique, would be an understatement. It is "unfathomable" in every sense of the word. In the end, this is a feel-good, human-interest story from the unlikeliest of sources: the mob.
First and foremost, behind prison walls for 24 years, his top priority was keeping his beloved son Chuck out of the mob. As he told his mob contingent, "Anyone who tries to bring my son into this life, will answer to me when I get out."
Due to his street reputation as a man of respect and honor in and outside the mob world, he accomplished just that. He kept his promise to the only child he had. How he managed to do that is something legends are made of.
Now at 83 years old, Chuck Workman is ready to tell the undisputed, unvarnished truth, putting an end to many questions about his father's life and all about his own. In his riveting memoir, "From Murder Incorporated to the PGA Tour" he pulls back the veil on the man beyond the myth, exposes some hidden inner-workings of the Combination Mob and Sicilian Mafia and dives in to grave detail on how the most feared gangsters this country has ever known, led him to a straight, legitimate life as a PGA Golfer and Entrepreneur. It becomes obvious how the murder of Dutch Schultz may very well have been the best thing that ever happened to him.
From behind prison walls, Charlie paved a path for his son, steering him away from a mobster's life toward success and honor. He and his wife, Katie, relied heavily on people that loved and respected them to assist in this daunting task, including orchestrating a clever 7-year ruse to convince Chuck that his father was serving in the Navy during World War II rather than serving time at a New Jersey state prison.
Although, it was Jewish gangsters who lent a hand during those seven years, the real men pulling the strings and making sure Charlie's wishes were adhered to were the most powerful Sicilians/Italian mobsters this country has ever known: Joe Bonanno, Albert Anastasia, Frank Costello, Gyp DeCarlo, Willie Catone, Willie Rubini and at the top of the list, Chuck's actual godfather, Charlie "Lucky" Luciano.
If it weren't for these men taking such good care of him while his dad was in prison for nearly 24 years, Chuck would never have become a renowned golf pro, who revived the now-revered Bethpage course and played on the PGA Senior Tour from 1985-1995. It was their guidance that led him there.
Chuck does not deny nor dramatize who and what these men were as mobsters, especially his father. However, he reveals a side to them that most people have not heard about or cared to discuss. Chuck is one of the first to ever pay homage to the good side of these legendary mobsters.
Despite their best efforts, Chuck grew up wondering whether he was a bad guy or a good guy. After his father's release from prison in 1964, Chuck slowly realized that his dad wasn't what the media made him out to be. The respect he earned was because of who he was as person, not what he did for a living.
Even though Chuck's father took some of his secrets to his grave, Chuck uncovers the truth in his own ways. He learned the real reason why Benny Siegel - a childhood friend of his father's- was whacked, the hidden agenda of Thomas Dewey, the truth about the deaths of such gangsters as Long Zwillman, Lepke Buchalter, Albert Anastasia and the like.
To say this memoir is unique, would be an understatement. It is "unfathomable" in every sense of the word. In the end, this is a feel-good, human-interest story from the unlikeliest of sources: the mob.
376 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 28, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for this copy in review for an honest review.
This book was a mix of memoir (Chuck’s career in golf and also how his dad.’s involvement in the mob shaped his life) and true crime, some mob activities that happened.
I’m usually not a fan of memoir and true crime mixed together, but this one definitely hit the spot.
I’ve always been fascinated by mob activities and relationships. The one thing that keeps this from being five stars for me is that some of the chapters were chopped up into multiple timelines childhood/adult etc and it could get confusing.
This book was a mix of memoir (Chuck’s career in golf and also how his dad.’s involvement in the mob shaped his life) and true crime, some mob activities that happened.
I’m usually not a fan of memoir and true crime mixed together, but this one definitely hit the spot.
I’ve always been fascinated by mob activities and relationships. The one thing that keeps this from being five stars for me is that some of the chapters were chopped up into multiple timelines childhood/adult etc and it could get confusing.
May 23, 2019
One of the most unfathomable mobster books ever written. Stories like this you just cannot make up. It is not your every day common mob book. It is almost the opposite of what you would expect. Incredible page turner, with story after story, one more unbelievable than the next...some absolutely hysterical. Chuck Workman is a magnificent story teller, of things only he saw during is life. You learn there is another side to mobsters. In this particular life, the mobsters are the good guys! Members of law enforcement were the bad guys, filled with government corruption and conspiracies. So many wrongs made right. So many lies made true. From his insane childhood filled with obstacles and even lies to his achieving his teenage dream of becoming a PGA Touring pro, this is a story of perseverance and unwavering determination to become a man. It is a feel good story, which just does not happen in mob books. It proves you can accomplish anything you want if you put your mind to it. Truly magnificent writing...very compelling. The title is right...REMARKABLE!!
February 19, 2020
Chuck Workman gives a view into his world with his autobiography about growing up the son of a Mafia enforcer, Charlie, "The Bug", Workman. I enjoy true crime and was thoroughly engaged reading about Charlie's life with his father and on tour. His story kept me glued to the book the whole time.
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read this for a review.
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read this for a review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews