Golf Get-Together
June 11, 2003 02:23 PM | General
June 11, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – What started as a get-together for friends and family has turned into so much more.
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| Former Mountaineer quarterback Chris Gray was a victim of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. (WVU Sports Communications photo) |
For the second straight year, teammates, friends and family members of Chris Gray will return to Morgantown on Saturday, June 14 to play in the second annual Chris Gray Memorial Golf Tournament held at Mountaineer Golf and Country Club.
The tournament was the result of some brainstorming by Gray’s fiancée Kelly Gangwer, her friends Lori Conner and Mike Lentz, and local sports personality Greg Hunter during a memorial service the West Virginia University athletic department held to honor Gray in November, 2001.
“There were two purposes for this,” said Hunter. “One was to set up an endowed scholarship in Chris’ name and the other was to get together each year and have some fun. That was what Chris was all about.”
In 2001 the Chris Gray Memorial Football Scholarship Fund was instituted by the Mountaineer Athletic Club and nearly $60,000 has been raised to this point. The amount needed to fully fund an endowed scholarship is $50,000.
“It’s great to see something nice like this that benefits many West Virginia University student-athletes develop from such a tragic situation,” said Whit Babcock, executive director of the Mountaineer Athletic Club. “We’re appreciative of all the hard work that’s been done for this scholarship endowment.”
Last year’s golf tournament raised nearly $15,000 and Hunter expects a similar total this year.
Hunter says about 120 golfers are committed to playing this year including former Mountaineer standouts Jake Kelchner, John Ray and Tom Robsock. Gray’s family is also expected to be in attendance as well.
This event is not affiliated with the Mountaineer Athletic Club golf tournaments held around the state but all of the proceeds go to help West Virginia University student-athletes.
As was the case last year, several local businesses are involved in the tournament including Papa John’s Pizza, which will donate food to participants once again this year.
“Our sponsors have been terrific,” said Hunter. “We wouldn’t nearly have as much money to donate to the scholarship fund if not for the generosity of so many from the Morgantown community.
Hunter says Mountaineer Golf and Country Club has also been of great assistance in helping the tournament grow.
“They’ve worked with us and helped make this thing an outstanding event,” said Hunter.
Gray was among the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. He was an employee of Cantor Fitzgerald and was on the 110th floor of the North Tower when the building collapsed. The company lost more than 700 employees in the attack and accounted for nearly 25 percent of all the WTC victims.
The 32-year-old Manalapan, N.J., native was living in Hoboken, N.J., at the time of his death.
Gray was a member of the West Virginia University football team from 1987-91 and lettered as a Mountaineer quarterback during his senior season.
Although no spots are available for the tournament, Hunter says they are still seeking hole sponsorships. Those interested in sponsoring a hole can contact Kelly Gangwer at (304) 292-8589.
Fans can also make a contribution to the Chris Gray Memorial Football Scholarship by contacting the Mountaineer Athletic Club office at 1-800-433-2072.
Or write: Mountaineer Athletic Club, P.O. Box 0877, Morgantown, W.Va., 26507-0877. All checks should be made payable to M.A.C. – Chris Gray. Include Fund # 3S801 in the memo section of the check.
Following the golf tournament, a reception and dinner will take place at Levels in downtown Morgantown Saturday evening.
