Five college-bound students each received checks for $1,000 to help fund their educations courtesy of the seventh annual Henry “Hank” White Memorial Golf Tournament, which teed off 9 a.m. Saturday at Cherokee Rose Golf Course in Hinesville.
Tournament organizer Derrick Taylor introduced the scholarship winners before the tournament scramble began.
“Each year we make sure we take some time and fulfill the legacy of Hank White and to put our efforts into those things that are most important, the children. Brandon Standard will be attending Mercer, Tirae Stevens will attend Armstrong Atlantic, Bethany Whitlock will attend Lee University, Sha Leia James will attend Claflin University and Shontiera Williams will attend Georgia Southern,” he said, introducing this year’s scholarship recipients.
Taylor said he was overjoyed with the community’s support and introduced the golfers to this year’s special guest.
“We have one of our nation’s leaders and we want to welcome the commanding general of the 3rd ID, Major General Robert ‘Abe’ Abrams,” Taylor said.
Abrams said the tournament was worthwhile because  it focused on the nation’s future — the children.
“As far as I’m concerned, anything we can do to make an investment back to our children...I jump at the opportunity,” he said.
Abrams added that he also honored by the fact that Henry “Hank” White was a Vietnam veteran who served his country proudly.
“I never had the opportunity to meet him but everything I’ve read about him…he was a great soldier and a great community leader. He was a man of his faith and he believed in what he was doing and making that investment in our kids,” he said.
White was chairman of the deacons’ board at First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and was the state chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He and his wife, Josephine, traveled the state with the church and organization doing whatever he could to help children attain better education.
It’s this legacy that White’s son, Henry Jr., vows to continue on behalf of his father. This year White said the tournament was even more bittersweet.
“This year is special, but then again kind of difficult for me and my family,” White said. “My mother passed away in January and my uncle passed away in May and then two weeks after he passed away, Ron Mobley passed away, and those were three prominent people for this golf tournament. Right now my mom would be giving the speech, my uncle would be chomping at the bit to get on the course and Ronnie would be sitting back there with a big smile on his face taking it all in.”
White offered a moment of silence and then the tournament got underway.
“I would like to thank each and every one of you for coming out here, especially those of you who have supported us throughout the years,” White said.

The tournament was still going on at press time. Look for results next week.