Ouimet Fund Presents Dick Connolly 5th "Spirit of Golf" Award

Dick Connolly (right) looks on
as Tom Ridge speaks.

The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund presented its fifth “Spirit of Golf” Award to Richard F. “Dick” Connolly, a Ouimet Alumnus and long-time supporter. The award was presented at a gala dinner at the Boston Marriott Copley Place on November 10. Mr. Connolly is a resident of Concord and a Sr. Vice President at Morgan Stanley. He is a member of Concord Country Club, Weston Golf Club and The Kittansett Club.

“Dick Connolly is thought of as our “Most Valuable Player” and is the epitome of giving back and what this award is all about. He has done everything you could ever ask a charitable organization’s volunteer to do. We are thrilled to be able to recognize him for all he has done,” said Richard J. Barrett, Ouimet Fund President. Mr. Barrett went on to say that proceeds of the event will create a permanently endowed scholarship in Mr. Connolly’s name and be The Fund’s largest such award. Nearly 700 guests were on hand.

Former Pennsylvania Governor/Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge was among the speakers that included Boston business giants Jack Connors, Chairman Emeritus of Hill, Holliday, Connors and Cosmopulous, and John Fish, CEO of Suffolk Construction. The evening also included video tributes from Banquet Co-Honorary Chair Arnold Palmer and other golf stars and Former President George H.W. Bush.

The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund’s “Spirit of Golf” Award honors individuals who love the game of golf and who are deeply committed to charitable and community support. The award was established to recognize individuals who have given back to their communities in the spirit of the classic Ouimet motto, “From what golf has given you, let us give something back to golf.” The award was established in 2003. Prior recipients are the late John McCafferty (2003), The Roche Brothers (2004), John Hamill (2005), and Jerry York (2007). There was no award presented in 2006. Prior events have all been golf outings.

Over the years Mr. Connolly has personally been the greatest donor to The Ouimet Fund, and served as President, Director, and on many committees, including head of its Board Governance group, where he recruits outstanding people to serve on the Board of Directors. For 30 years he has been the Chair of the Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament. He has endowed a scholarship in the name of his family. Dick’s greatest and possibly most lasting contribution, however, is jump starting the Ouimet Annual Banquet, once a small affair, to become the top golf dinner in the US. It started when he invited Arnold Palmer, one of his financial services clients, to receive the inaugural “Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf” in 1997. He has shared the Presenting Sponsorship donation with his company, first PaineWebber, then UBS and now Morgan Stanley, every year. He has been the driving force and sold many of the other sponsorships of the event which has raised approximately $5 million over the years. Mr. Connolly has also endowed a scholarship in his family’s name and contributed in many other ways. The Ouimet Fund’s Distinguished Service Award is named after him and presented annually.

Tom Ridge (center) leads a standing ovation for
Richard F. “Dick” Connolly, Jr. (right) in top photo. Standing
to left is Mike Wood. Mr. Ridge, the former Governor of Pennsylvania
and Secretary of Homeland Security, is a close friend of Mr. Connolly
and was a special guest as Mr. Connolly was presented with the
Ouimet Fund’s 5th “Spirit of Golf Award Dinner which was attended by
approximately 700 guests at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel.
Mr. Wood, a Ouimet Scholarship alumnus, thrilled the audience
with his singing of a special song about Mr. Connolly and
also performed “God Bless America.”

Jack Connors (left) and John Fish (center) applaud
Mr. Connolly. Mr. Fish, CEO of Suffolk Construction and one
of the Banquet’s presenting sponsors, spoke to Mr. Connolly,
civic and charitable endeavors while Mr. Connors, Chairman Emeritus
of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulous, gave an extremely
humorous roast of Mr. Connolly.

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