By Shaun Szkolnik, for the Tribune
The Center Point Fire District put on the 2019 Ricky L. Davis Memorial Golf Tournament and Fundraiser at the Grayson Valley Country Club Tuesday, July 29, 2019.
The event honored the memory of Ricky L. Davis, a first responder who gave all to protect his community.
“In 2000, we had a fireman that was killed in the line of duty, the first one that Center Point’s ever had,” said Logistics Officer for Center Point Fire District Chris Horn. “After that, a group got together … and came up with a golf tournament, trying to raise some money for MDA, and we reached out to other agencies to come out and play to raise some more money. We did that for a couple of years and then we stopped. This is actually our ninth year of doing this. Next year will be the anniversary; actually 20 years since his death.”
Horn has fond memories of this local hero.
“Ricky was a great guy,” said Horn. “You never saw Ricky without a smile on his face … Ricky always had a smile on his face; he never met a stranger. He loved his job. He was the one that prayed before every meal; he prayed for the crews. Currently, at every station we have a plaque with his picture on it reminding folks that we’ve got to take our time and do our job. It means a lot to me. I’m in almost my 30th year with Center Point. I’ve only worked here; we’re really a close-knit family organization. Miss Darlene knows that she is part of our family and will be forever.”
In addition to serving as a memorial to Davis, the tournament also provides a chance to raise money for some very worthy causes.
“We’ve really grown,” said Horn. “We’ve gone from only having MDA as our main source that we give money to, but now Kid One Transport, Breast Cancer research of Alabama and we also give to Children’s Hospital. At Christmas time, a bunch of us go down with wagons full of toys. It takes the place of our guys standing out in the hot, in front of stores asking for money with a boot. It puts a little fun into it. Today we’ve got three different mayors playing right now from three different cities. The mayor of Trussville is here; we’ve got the mayor from Clay, we also have the mayor from Gardendale playing. It kind of brings everybody together.”
The tournament was put together by Horn and a committee comprised of Captain Paul Henderson, Captain Troy Gipson and Lieutenant Chris Brewis. Corporate sponsors such as Hometown Bank and Bento Construction and Restoration were invaluable in making it a success.
“We have a committee,” said Horn. “(They) go around and ask and call for donations. We have a silent auction … and then we have door prizes. Everyone gets a door prize when they come in … this year Hometown Bank has furnished YETI Cups with our logo on it and, also, they furnished Boonie hats with our logo on it that everybody gets in their bag already. It is $125 per person; what we try to do is give as much as that back to every golfer that comes here. They get a breakfast, they get a lunch, and the afternoon guys, they get lunch and dinner. Chick-fil-A comes out this afternoon and brings us a box dinner, and they bring their cow. For lunch is Jim N’ Nicks and then Jacks has been very gracious for lunch. They all pitch in and help us … Lifesaver flew in; Lifesaver reached out to us; they are the ones that actually flew Ricky out when he got hurt.”
Horn wanted to also give a special mention to the Grayson Valley Country Club for providing the venue.
“We could not do this anywhere else,” said Horn. “We’re very thankful to the owner here, Mr. (Ronald) Moore, for letting us have the Grayson Valley Country Club. He goes overboard for us to allow us to have it — it is in our fire district. Mr. Moore goes out of his way. I’m told that we’re the second-largest tournament he has up every year … So, we’re very thankful to him for allowing us to have it here.”
The tournament had two tee times. The first facilitated 22 teams at 8:30 a.m. The second round hosted 21 teams at 1:30 p.m.
“We feel that this is a great tournament,” said Horn. “The people that come feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. They feel like their having a good time. Everybody talks about the fire department being a brotherhood; well, this goes to show it.
