2008 Veterans Express Bus Golf Tournament

What started out as a rainy day, ended up with blue skys and a successful golf tournament. Thanks to area sponsors and golfers, $5,400 was raised for the Veterans Express Bus. The Veterans Express Bus 10th Annual Golf Tournament was held Saturday, April 19, 2008 at the Cairo Country Club. This tournament is sponsored by the Cairo/Grady County Employer Committee and Thomas Chevrolet of Cairo, and organized by veteran Fred McCallum. Mr. McCallum began 10 years ago, along with Ben Celaya holding a golf tournament to raise money for the Veterans Express Bus. This year’s tournament was held at Cairo Country Club with the assistance of Golf Pro Glen Herrell and his staff. Mr. Glen Herrell, Cairo Country Club’s Golf Pro has been a part of the Veterans Express Golf Tournament since it’s inception.

The tournament was comprised of 16 teams and concluded with a fabulous barbeque meal prepared by Chef Earl of Cairo Country Club. Prizes were awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams. This year’s winners were: 1st place winners were Jim, Barber, Tommy Pharis, Blake Young and Dale Helms; 2nd place winners were, Rick Zweyeorff, Alexander Atkins, Ricky Johnson, and Steve Golden, all from American Signature Furniture Company, and 3rd place, Dr. Bob Goodhope (Adminstrator from Veterans Hospital in Tallahassee), Bud Bailey, Anna Tanner and Bill Jacobs. Prizes were also given for proximity as well as various door prizes. The Veterans Express Bus was created by a group of local Veterans to assist area Veterans get the medical help they needed by transporting them to the Veterans Administration Hospital. Since the beginning in 1988, this bus, which is now a 15 seat passenger van, has transported Veterans on a weekly basis to get medical attention. Many veterans, could not get medical treatment if they did not have the transportation to get to the VA hospital. The Veterans Express Bus operates on donations.

This year’s tournament was dedicated to Veteran Ben Celaya who was one of the core members of the Veterans Express Bus organization. “Mr. Ben” Celaya was the Golf Pro at the Cairo Country Club of 18 years and his love of the game and of all veterans, helped to inspire and ignite the Veterans Express Bus Golf Tournament. Many veterans have been served due to the contributions made to the Veterans Express Bus over the years. “Mr. Ben”, as many people in Cairo fondly call him, served in the U.S. Army for well over 20 years. Many of the players in this year’s tournament expressed their appreciation to “Mr. Ben” for his many years of dedicated service to the veterans of this community. “Mr. Ben” has served in many areas over the years in Cairo and this was an excellent occasion for Cairo to show their appreciation. The Cairo/Grady County Employer Committee proudly sponsors this event as a means to say “thanks” to the veterans and citizens of this community said Chairperson, Marilyn Dollar. Plans are already being made for next year’s tournament. Practice that swing golfers, we look forward to another successful tournament in 2009.