128 Golfers Participate in WEF’s 33rd Annual Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament

33rd Annual Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament photo.  Photo by Gordon Burns

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Wilkes Education Foundation’s (WEF) 33rd Annual Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament, held on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Oakwoods Country Club. It generated approximately $27,000 to be used to award mini-grants and scholarships to Wilkes County Schools’ teachers and students.

A shot-gun start began at noon with 128 golfers participating. For 2022-23, the Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament awarded $43,964.75 for 39 awards up to $1,500 each to Wilkes County Schools’ teachers in the form of mini-grants for special projects that are not funded through the state or county. Mini-grant awards for 2023-2024 will made this summer. Additionally, WEF has awarded scholarships totaling $120,500 to Wilkes County students for the 2023-2024 academic year. Cumulatively, in the past 39 years, the WEF has awarded, in support of education, over $1,930,500 to Wilkes County teachers and students.

David McNeill, golf tournament committee chair, stated, “There are some players who have played every year, not only returning for the fun but also because it supports a great cause - Wilkes County Schools. I am grateful for the support of all the players, our sponsors, volunteers, and the committee members who helped make this year’s tournament such a great success.”

The tournament was established in memory of Hugh Martin who died in April 1990. Martin was an avid golfer and had been a teacher at Mulberry Elementary School and Wilkes Central School before becoming a state and federal probation officer. “He supported any event that made a difference for students,” added McNeill. “Hugh always looked for the best in others”. His untimely death was a reminder to his friends, “We do not take away in life; we can only give.”

The Captain’s Choice results of the 2023 competition are as follows:

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Carolina West Wireless served as the tournament sponsor. Corporate sponsors were, Window World, Fourth Elm Construction, PNC Bank, ECMD, Brown and Brown, Insurance Services and Wilcox Marketing. Special thanks to Arnold and Becky Lakey for sponsoring dinner, Larry and Diane Stone for sponsoring g lunch, and Peggy Martin Halsch for being flag sponsor. Hole-in-one sponsors included McNeill Chevrolet, Buick, Nissan; Randy Marion Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram; Phil Stevens Specialty Cars; and, Blue Ridge Tractor. In all, more than 100 individuals, groups and businesses contributed to the event by being hole sponsors.

In addition to the support of the players and sponsors, the efforts of a dedicated group of foundation members and volunteers make the Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament possible. Together they completed the many tasks for the successful tournament, including preparing goodies for players, monitoring snacks and beverages throughout the event, and assisting with registration and event contests. Special thanks to the following for volunteering their time and energy to the event: Connie and David McNeill, Bill Myers, Danny Holman, Arnold Lakey, Charles Wooten, Marcia Reynolds, Bert Young, Gordon Burns, Doris Stroud, Holden Abrams and staff at Oakwoods Country Club.

The Wilkes Education Foundation is a private, non-profit, IRS 501(c) (3) tax-exempt endowment corporation dedicated to promoting excellence in education in the Wilkes County Schools. For information about contributing to the WEF, contact Jody Hamby, 302 9th St, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. For more information, see www.wilkeseducationfoundation.org.