By Susan Motander
The 17th annual Don Montgomery Memorial Golf Tournament is set for Friday, May 15. A scramble format is used and no handicaps are required. Golfers of all abilities are welcome. Tee Time is 1:00 p.m. and the entry fee is $125, which includes the game itself as well as a cart, the dinner, and the awards. For those who wish to attend the dinner only, the cost is only $40. Proceeds benefit the Mary B. Thorne Alumni Breakfast Club and the Santa Anita YMCA.
Douglas & Zook Mortuary is the premier sponsor of the tournament this year this year. Richard Zook said, “This tournament is a great tribute to Don, for all he had done for the school district and the community. It‘s also in support of the Montgomery family, particularly Don’s wife Joanne and son Andy, who put their hearts into making it a fun event.”
The tournament began as a tribute to Don Montgomery, the almost-native Monrovian, who,after attending Monrovia schools, graduating from college, and serving in the United States Air Force, returned home to those schools, eventually rising to head the school district as its superintendent. He also served as a member of the Citrus College Board of Trustees, serving as its president at one time. He was president of the Santa Anita YMCA.
The Don Montgomery Memorial Golf Tournament began in 1999 as a tribute the year after Montgomery passed away. He was the immediate past president of the Mary B. Thorne Alumni Breakfast Club, a group of Monrovia High School alumni who had excelled in sports while at MHS. The first tournament was organized and staffed by members of that club. Since Montgomery had been so active in the YMCA, the Mary B. Thorne Club gave half the proceeds of the tournament that first year to the Y.
Since then, the YMCA has actively participated in the operation of the tournament and continues to share in the profits. The Y uses the funds to supplement it ongoing Financial Assistance Program to allow participation for those who might not otherwise be able to do so. The Mary B. Thorne Club grants scholarships to four graduating MHS seniors each year. The Montgomery family is the only three-generation members of the Mary B. Thorne Club with Don, his son, and granddaughter all being members.
Montgomery was elected to the club in 1950 when he graduated from MHS. Originally only two young men were elected each year to the club; now young women are elected as well. It should come as no surprise that the current president of the club is Richard Zook, Premier Sponsor (for those who are curious, Zook was elected in 1971 and Andy Montgomery in 1975).
As with all the tournaments, the proceeds will be divided between the YMCA and the Mary B. Thorne Club. Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsorships are still available as well as Tee sponsorships. For information about sponsorships or just participation, contact Chuck Pollard, 257 Aspen Dr., Monrovia, (626) 358-0010 or Andy Montgomery (626) 357-2863. People are urged to register for the tournament by April 21st, as only the first 144 players will play. The tournament has sold out every year since its inception.
