Happy Irby legacy charity continues to thrive

  • Published
  • By Sonic Johnson
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss --  Local community members and Columbus Air Force Base Airmen came together for the Happy Irby Christmas Fund Golf Tournament March 24, 2017, at the soon-to-close Whispering Pines base golf course.

Twenty six foursomes showed up to play in this year’s tournament.

With the near-record turnout of 104 golfers, the 1 p.m. shot-gun start was expanded by golf course officials to add an additional 9 a.m. tee time. Seven teams golfed the earlier tee time and finished in time to join the afternoon golfers in the club house for lunch.

The Happy Irby Christmas Fund is a thriving private organization that benefits thousands of adults and children alike. Last year, the fund provided clothing and supplies to over 450 children in the local schools and community. In addition, the Happy Irby Fund delivered over 120 fruit baskets to shut-ins and elderly who would otherwise be alone.
In 1996 the Happy Fund became part of the Combined Federal Campaign with 100 percent of donations collected used to provide gifts. Local fund raisers such as the CAFB Annual Happy Fund Golf Tournament and private donations are accepted throughout the year to keep Happy Irby's dream alive.

The 2017 Happy golf tournament received $7,000 in tournament and hole sponsors and $3,400 in golfer registration generating nearly $11,000 for the charity.

Whispering Pines is scheduled to close at the end of April this year, which may have contributed to the record turnout this year. The Happy Christmas Fund Golf Tournament has been played on Columbus AFB for over 20 years and was initially played in October. After Happy Irby’s death in 2009, the tournament moved to the spring and is anchored around Happy’s birthdate of March 27, beginning with the 2010 tournament.

The golfers from the 43rd Flying Training Squadron led by Lt. Col. Tom McElhinney were the tournament winners with a score of 29 strokes for the 9-hole tournament. Lt. Col. Steve Cochran, Maj. Luke Borer and Capt. Christopher Roberts rounded out the Firebird foursome.
Second place was a team from the community made up of Ed Edwards, Columbus AFB Wingman Mark Alexander, Joe Fleming and T. Stone. Third place was taken by Walt Guenther, 14th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hal Larken, 14th CES, Darrell Petters, 14th CES and Dale Guadagno L-3 Communications.

“The Happy Irby Tournament supports a charity that cares about children,” remarked George Irby, Chairman of the Happy Irby Christmas Fund. “It also provides a chance for community members and base Airmen to come together for a good cause and a little competitive golf!”