June 11, 2009

News Release

TISD Foundation Golf Tournament Hits the Links Monday

          For the 16^th year in a row, the Tyler ISD Foundation will host its annual HealthFirst TPA/Suddenlink Communications Gil Hitt Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, June 15^th at Willow Brook Country Club, 3205 West Erwin.  This year, a record-setting amount raised will be announced by Tom Slack, chair of the golf tournament planning committee.  Over the years, the event has raised more than $500,000 for the Tyler ISD Foundation.

          An oversized check will be presented by the golf committee to Ron Vickery, Tyler ISD School Board of Trustees President and Cecil McDaniel, Tyler ISD Deputy Superintendent. 

          Schedule of Events:

            10:45 a.m. until 12 noon         Lunch

            12 noon                                   Announcements (just outside Club Pro Shop)

            12:15 p.m.                               Shotgun start

            Nineteen teams of six players each will be vying for prizes in two flights, first and second place, in the shamble format.  All proceeds of the tournament go towards the programs of the Tyler ISD Foundation which include student and teacher recognition, incentive grants for single classrooms to district-wide projects and district events.

            The event honors the memory of Gil Hitt, who died more than 10 years ago while serving as President of the Tyler ISD School Board.  Family members attending will be: Mrs. Debbie Hitt, widow; daughters:  Christie Hitt-Hamilton & Erin Hitt (Erin is a teacher for Tyler ISD at Dixie Elementary.) and grandchildren, Austin & Hannah Hamilton.

            Also honored will be a golf tournament volunteer, Henry Conaway, who died last August at age 86.  At the time of his death, a memorial fund was created with the Tyler ISD Foundation and more than $2000 was raised to support the boy’s golf teams at John Tyler and Robert E. Lee high schools.  His widow, Fran Conaway, will be attending the tournament Monday.

            Henry was a 1940 TISD graduate and high school athlete.   He shot 9 “hole in ones” and scored his age many times.  Sixty-eight years after his graduation, he was a volunteer at the Tyler ISD Foundation tournament. 

            The two title anchor sponsors are HealthFirst Third Party Administrators and Suddenlink Communications.  The tournament underwriters include: one anonymous donor, Brookshire Grocery Company, Cooperative Teachers Credit Union, CBS-19 TV, Estes, McClure and Associates, Eubanks Harris Roberts Craig Architects, and Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins, and Mott, LLP.  Beverages are provided by Coca Cola. The golf hats are provided by Trinity Mother Frances Health System Foundation.  Team Photos provided by Lifetouch/Prestige Photography (Curt Malone).  The Hole In One is sponsored by Mike Pile Auto Group.  Randy Stewart’s Golf Connection is the sponsor vendor.

            The  golf tournament planning committee include:  Tom Slack, Todd Cruthird, Janice Minor, Skip Ogle, Gay Smith, Stacey Gregory, Gary Miller, Bill Coates, Charles Hill, Eddie Crawford, Pam Tonges, Chris Hudson, Tracy Phelps, and Larry Goddard.

 Erin Hitt, Mrs. Debbie Hitt, Christie Hitt-Hamilton, Austin & Hannah Hamilton

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