Esco Harmon has the distinction of being the oldest collegiate athlete in NCAA history.

Harmon competed on the Benedict men's golf team, joining the Tigers in 1999 at the age of 62. He competed as Benedict's No. 1 golfer, won several tournaments, and helped Benedict to a third-place finish in the 2002 PGA National Minority Golf Championship.

Harmon was born and raised in Columbia, SC., the youngest of 11 children. He attended C.A. Johnson High School, where he competed in football and track. He also began caddying and learned the game of golf. After graduating in 1958, he moved to New York City and began his career with a concentration in electronics, eventually opening his own business. He married Mae Frances, another Columbia native, in 1964. The family moved to Long Island, and Harmon continued his career with the government until retiring in 1997. After retiring, Esco and Mae returned to Columbia, where he spent most of his free time playing golf.

While attending a holiday event, Harmon was approached by Benedict golf coach Lucious Clark, who asked Harmon if he had ever attained a college degree, and that he could offer Harmon a scholarship. Harmon had always dreamed of obtaining a degree, and now had the opportunity to not only go to school, but to play his favorite sport. He enrolled in Benedict in the spring of 1999 at the age of 62.

He began his college studies majoring in recreation. He graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation.

After graduation, his love of golf continued. He helped establish The First Tee Golf Program in Columbia. This program helped youth not only learn golf techniques, but taught life skills, such as honesty, courtesy, sportsmanship and confidence. He worked for the Columbia City Recreation Department for 14 years teaching and mentoring youth as well as instructing adult golf lessons. He retired from the First Tee Golf Program in 2014.
 
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