Many reasons to keep going

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Ten years after my father died, his family and friends celebrated his life Saturday at the Diamondhead Pine Course and Twin Lakes Pavilion at the annual John W. Magandy Memorial Golf Tournament.

The four-man scramble is held annually to raise money for the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association. This year, we announced to the players and guests present that we have endowed the scholarship and a child or grandchild of a Seabee going to college next year will be awarded the UTCM John W. Magandy Scholarship.

As a family, we are so proud that my father's memory will be kept alive with this perpetual scholarship. But our own sense of accomplishment at raising the money necessary to endow it is there as well. We have worked hard to provide a first-class event enjoyed by all who attend.

Those who turned out to play some golf enjoyed a beautiful day, a gorgeous course - and even a few low scores!

After awarding prizes, we also recognized a few of Dad's old friends and shipmates who started the tournament in 1998 as a way of honoring their friend.

Bob Zeller, George Dionoin, Russell Brooks, Jack Huff, Paul Blanchard, Dave Bammert, Whit Meyers, Jack McGinnis and Jim Halfkenny, who also is deceased, started the tournament at the Seabee Base course and taught us how to run a tournament so the family could carry it on.

And even after they turned over the tournament to the family, all of these men continue to participate each year. What a testament to their friendship with our dad and their commitment to raising money to help Seabee kids further their education.

There have been times in the past 10 years that we have had second thoughts about whether or not to continue. Other commitments, unforeseen circumstances and just the everyday grind of our own lives give us pause and make us wonder sometimes if we should continue. After all, the scholarship is fully funded.

But each year, the reasons to keep going outweigh the reasons not to. And as we have shouldered on, others, I'm sure, will do the same. It's just one reason the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association now has more than 80 four-year scholarships awarded based on academics and need.