The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes the word “angel” as 1) a spiritual being and 2) one who aids or supports with money.
Right on both counts when describing El Paso’s Margie Henderson. I mean, she’s such a nice person I don’t’ hesitate calling her an angel in the spiritual sense. And oh, what an angel she’s been in raising money for the UTEP golf team.
Would you believe $2 million?
It’s true.
I FIRST MET Margie during the bowling craze of the 1960s and 1970s. She seemed to be everywhere in the sport. She was a member of teams, a league officer and, eventually, a friend. And yes, my family and I were even lucky to have her as a member on one of our teams.
Her biggest accomplishment was winning the Women’s International Bowling Congress Texas State Bowling Doubles title in Austin in 1987 with her partner, MaryEllen McCarthy. Margie bowled a 603 series, which was 174 pins over her 143 average for the three games. It included a 247 game.
She continues to bowl once a week in the Club 55 Senior League on Thursdays at Fiesta Lanes.
SHE GOT into helping the UTEP golf team while working as a secretary for Mack Massey. He was president of the Century Club, the Miners’ golf booster club, and he asked her to solicit donations from a list of boosters he had.
“I had never asked anyone for donations before and I was terrified,” she recalls. “But Mr. Massey told me that with every ‘no’ I would get there would be a ‘yes’ coming along right behind it.”
Little did anyone know how successful she would be. She is celebrating her 20th year as the team’s fundraiser. During that time she has directed 40 fundraising tournaments that have raised $100,000 a year. Yes, that adds up to $2 million, folks.
WHAT A HELP that has been to the UTEP golf program. UTEP only pays for the golf coach’s salary and the players’ scholarships so the money she has raised has helped pay for the team’s equipment, clothing, recruiting costs, team travel and office expense.
Since she’s been with the Century Club she’s been through five golf coaches, a couple of hundred men’s golf team members and several thousand boosters.
“When I have leisure time, I spend it in Austin where I have two daughters, Sandra Carpenter and Camille Palafox, and two grandchildren, Scarlett and Charles Mario Palafox, ages 4 and 7,” she says.
Then she adds, “The Century Club has been good to me and I plan to keep doing what I’ve been doing as long as they have me.”
Now, is that an angel, or what?
TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was the first golfer to win all four “majors” (the U.S and British Opens, the Masters and the PGA?). Answer at end.
SPEAKING OF GOLF, it was good to learn that starting this year the First Tee Program will be part of physical education at elementary schools in the El Paso Independent School District. Golf is not only a great sport, it’s one that people can enjoy late into life. And what a great boost it could be in the future to high school and UTEP golf programs, not to mention golf courses that have been struggling of late. Do you get a kick out of watching little tykes swinging a club? I do.
ANSWER to trivia question: Gene Sarazen won the U.S. Open and the PGA in 1922, the British Open in 1932 and the Masters in 1935.
Veteran sports journalist and author Ray Sanchez welcomes suggestions for his column.
Ray Sanchez
Blog:
http://el-paso-sports.com/