Archived News & Events
4/27/09
2009 Ouimet Banquet
The 2009 Ouimet Annual Banquet was a unique celebration of the Fund’s 60th anniversary in many ways.
Banquet honoree Tom Watson spoke in very warm terms of Mr. Ouimet and the need to preserve caddy programs.
A highlight of the evening was the announcement that Ouimet Fund also would hold the line on scholarships and would, in fact, increase most awards despite a difficult economy and fundraising uncertainty. “Tonight I am proud to announce that thanks to our donor’s generosity the Ouimet Fund will not be cutting financial support to any of our current scholars. Aid to our incoming freshman class will be kept at the same level as in the prior year. Further, and in an effort to assist our returning upper classmen, we will be raising scholarship awards to our eligible returning sophomore, junior, and senior classes. These students will receive approximately 10% more in scholarship than they received last year,” said Richard J. Barrett, Ouimet Fund President. The anticipated 2009- 2010 awards would bring The Fund to more than $20 Million in scholarships since its founding in 1949.
Robert P. McDonald of Charles River Country Club, a member of the original group of 13 Ouimet Scholars in 1949, spoke to The Fund’s 60th Anniversary. Mr. McDonald had spoken at The Fund’s 50th anniversary dinner and was asked back for this occasion. He spoke about being a caddie in 1942, and the first scholarship group as well as the early dinners and Mr. Ouimet.
Mr. Watson, of course, is one of the biggest legends in the history of the game of golf. He is a winner of eight major titles, including five British Open Championships, two Masters, and one U.S. Open. He is also known for epic battles with Jack Nicklaus in the British Open at Turnberry in 1977 and the US Open at Pebble Beach in 1982 - some of the greatest moments in golf history. He is second in British Open wins to Harry Vardon, and was considered one of the greatest ever bad-weather players.
In a special presentation, a permanently scholarship was created in the name of Mr. Watson’s long-time pro and mentor, Stan Thirsk. Mr. Thirsk was head professional at the Kansas City Country Club for 31 years and started working with Mr. Watson when he was 11 years old.
Ted Hansberry, a former Ouimet Fund President, received the Richard F. Connolly, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. He spoke of how Mr. Connolly is a modern day Francis Ouimet.
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Richard F. Connolly, Jr. (l) presents the Ouimet Fund’s Distinguished Service Award to Ted Hansberry |
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Rory McGuire, 2009 Ouimet Student Speaker |
Rory McGuire of Braintree Municipal Golf Course and Vanderbilt University was the Student Speaker. He spoke of his experiences at Braintree, in organizing a tremendous successful series of “Relays for Life” American Cancer Society fund raisers as well as a semester spent at the University of St. Andrews. He closed his talk with a toast to the 60 years, Mr. Ouimet and the founders, and the scholars, donors, and leaders of The Fund.