The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund
Gary Player to be honored on
May 19, 2008!
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Gary Player, long considered golf’s greatest international player, will be the guest speaker and honored with the 13th Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf at the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund’s 59th Annual Banquet. The banquet will be held Monday, May 19, 2008 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Morgan Stanley will again be the presenting sponsor.
“We are honored that Gary Player has accepted our invitation. He is truly one of the legends of the game. Mr. Player has always represented the highest ideals of class and sportsmanship. He is a perfect match for our Lifelong Contributions Award in that, like Mr. Ouimet, he has been a fantastic goodwill ambassador for the game and that he is so dedicated to charities, especially children’s education. He is also a captivating and charming speaker, and this should be a very special evening,” said Ted Highberger, Ouimet Fund President. Mr. Highberger went on to explain that Mr. Player’s appearance will be quite historic, as it completes The Fund’s honoring of the famed “Big Three.” Prior “Big Three” honorees were Arnold Palmer in 1997 and Jack Nicklaus along with his wife, Barbara, last year.
Mr. Highberger announced that Honorable Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of Boston would serve as Honorary Chairperson for the Banquet. This is the eleventh time Mr. Menino has served in this capacity. The dinner will also feature a video of Mr. Player along with highlights of past dinners and honorees.
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Gary Player has won 163 tournaments around the world. He won nine major championships, and was the third to win the career grand slam after Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan. He also won nine majors on the Champions Tour and is the only player to win the career grand slam on both tours. A South African who also lives in the US, he has been called, “The World’s Most Traveled Athlete,” having logged over 14 million miles. He is known as the “Black Knight,” for often playing in all black outfits, and for his tremendous physical conditioning. He credits fitness as a key reason for his longevity, winning tournaments in 27 consecutive years – the all-time record.
Mr. Player is a long-time member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, a featured spokesperson for the institution, and has been honored with a special display there. He has a variety of business and interests. He has designed over 250 golf courses around the world, raises champion horses, and is extremely dedicated to charitable pursuits, especially educating underprivileged children. His foundation built a school in South Africa that has educational facilities for 500 children from kindergarten through grade eight.
The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund was founded in 1949 and since then has awarded over $17.7 Million in need/merit based college tuition assistance to young people who served at least two years as caddies or workers in pro shop and course superintendent operations in Massachusetts. In the current school year, The Fund awarded 338 scholarships to students who worked at 136 courses. A total of 4,400 students have received Ouimet Scholarships and many have gone on to outstanding positions of leadership in business and professional careers. The Fund is a 501 (c) (3) organization and is considered, “The Golf Charity of Massachusetts.”
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Roche to MC, Tobin to be Honored at Ouimet Banquet
WBZ-TV’s Sports Anchor and Reporter Dan Roche will serve as Master of Ceremonies and Anne Marie Tobin will receive the Richard F. Connolly, Jr. Distinguished Service Award at the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund’s 59th Annual Banquet on Monday, May 19, 2008. Gary Player, long considered golf’s greatest international player, will be the guest speaker and honored with the 13th Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf. The banquet will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Morgan Stanley will again be the presenting sponsor.
“We’re looking forward to having Dan join us for the first time as MC and to honoring Anne Marie Tobin for all she has done for The Ouimet Fund. Dan will be a wonderful fresh face at our podium. He brings wonderful skill, warmth, enthusiasm, and a love of golf to the role. Anne Marie has been one of the great leaders of women’s golf and the Ouimet Fund, and one of the finest women’s players in Massachusetts history. This should be a very special evening,” said Ted Highberger, Ouimet Fund President.
The Ouimet Banquet has been the largest golf banquet in the US for the past dozen years. Mr. Highberger said that tickets and sponsorship packages are available and interested fans and companies should contact The Fund at 774.430.9090 or the web site www.ouimet.org.
It was announced earlier that Honorable Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of Boston would serve as Honorary Chairperson for the Banquet. This is the eleventh time Mr. Menino has served in this capacity. The dinner will also feature a video of Mr. Player along with highlights of past dinners and honorees.
In addition to his roles as Sports Anchor and Reporter on WBZ-TV, the popular Mr. Roche hosts “Red Sox This Week” on WBZ’s sister station, TV38. He recently won a New England Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Series for “Red Sox This Week.” He has also twice been nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Sports Reporter in New England. Prior to joining WBZ-TV in 2000, Mr. Roche worked at WBZ Radio. Starting in 1994, he held several roles including midday sports anchor, Boston Bruins game host, and co-host of “Sunday Sports Page” with Steve DeOssie. He has also worked at WHDH and WRKO Radio in Boston. A long time golfer and golf fan, he hosted a Sunday morning golf radio show for several years. He is a graduate of Syracuse University.
Ms. Tobin has been a member of the Ouimet Fund’s Board of Directors since 1998, serving on several committees, including as Chair of The Fund’s Scholarship Committee since 2004. She was President of The Fund from 2002-2004. She is also a former President of the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts and was instrumental in the establishment of the Ouimet’s WGAM/Dolly Sullivan Scholarship, one of The Fund’s top endowed awards for females. She is an outstanding player, winning the WGAM’s Association Championship seven times. The Women’s Player of the Year Award is named after her. She has also been very involved in the establishment of the Women’s Division of the Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament.
Ouimet Fund to Re-Present McCracken with
USGA Dey Award at Banquet
The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund will “Re-Present” Harry McCracken with the USGA’s Joseph Dey Award at The Fund’s Annual Banquet on Monday, May 19, 2008.
The Joseph Dey Award recognizes meritorious service to the game as a volunteer and is one of the USGA’s most prestigious honors. Mr. McCracken, a Charles River member, is the long time Secretary/Treasurer of the New England Golf Association and has been involved in officiating many USGA, MGA, NEGA and Ouimet Memorial Tournament events. He is a former Massachusetts Golf Association President (1984-85) and was honored by the MGA with its Frank Sellman Distinguished Service Award in 1994.
The Dey Award was originally presented to Mr. McCracken at the USGA’s 2007 Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
As Ouimet Fund President Ted Highberger said, “Harry has done so much for the game. We’re happy to recognize Harry at our dinner and give his many local friends, who could not go to San Francisco, a chance to see this re-presentation and pass on their best wishes and congratulations.”
Denny Goodrich of Dedham Country and Polo Club, a Ouimet Fund former President and long-time Director and Banquet Vice Chair, will present the award to Mr. McCracken. Mr. Goodrich has also been a volunteer official at numerous MGA, USGA and Ouimet Tournaments.
Please contact The Fund at 774-430-9090 for ticket information.
Previous Honorees:
2007 Barbara and Jack Nicklaus
2006 Peter Jacobsen
2005 Greg Norman
2004 Nancy Lopez
2003 Chi Chi Rodriguez
2002 Former President George H.W. Bush
2001 Ken Venturi & Eddie Lowery
2000 Curtis Strange
1999 Ben Crenshaw
1998 Gene Sarazen
1997 Arnold Palmer
Click here for last year’s banquet highlights