The WGA Caddie Scholarship Fund is pleased to announce its ninth endowed scholarship, established November 15, 2018 by Mr. Bob J. Thomas.
The “Bob J. Thomas Scholarship Fund” will be awarded to eligible students who have caddied and/or worked in service to golf at any WGACSF participating club. This scholarship may be presented for the first time in the 2019-20 academic year and will provide additional opportunities for financial aid to eligible and deserving candidates.
The establishment of the endowed scholarship program has, and will continue to provide a permanent source of funding to supplement other fundraising activities and enable the Fund to expand its support of financially needy scholarship candidates.
“This is a very special gift from Bob,” said Mr. Jay Mottola, former MGA Executive Director and current WGACSF Director.
“This scholarship will be one of Bob’s permanent legacies for his tireless efforts to support the WGA, CSF, and the game over so many years.”
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Bob Thomas is a familiar face to those in the Metropolitan area golf community, having recently retired from the position of Executive Director of the Westchester Golf Association after 27 years. Bob also served as the Executive Director of the WGACSF from 1991-2016.
Born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Bob spent his teenage years at the Kannapolis Golf Club as a loyal looper and an employee on the grounds crew and golf shop staff. He traded his instruments as a member of the A.L. Brown High School’s marching, dance, and orchestra band for his sticks as part of the Lenoir Rhyne College varsity golf team. Bob graduated from the Hickory, N.C. college in 1962 with a degree in Business. Shortly thereafter, he served six years with the North Carolina Air National Guard. Following his service in the National Guard, Bob embarked on a 24-year career in the textile industry and relocated to New York with the North Carolina Finishing Company, a division of Fieldcrest Cannon Mills.
Bob has been on the board of the Westchester Golf Association and the WGA Caddie Scholarship Fund for forty-four years. Similarly, he has served on the Board of Directors at Knollwood Country Club in Elmsford, N.Y. since 1974. In 2015 he was a recipient of the Ike Grainger Award, given in recognition of his 25 years of service to the USGA. The following year, the WGA Caddie Scholarship Fund presented Bob with the 2016 the Udo Reinach Award for his demonstrable outstanding service and support of the Fund in the form of time, impact, and contributions.
Having spent time on the course with WGA Caddie Scholarship Fund co-founder Willie Turnesa, Bob has passed down many stories of the Westchester golf legend. Through his tenure as an employee and volunteer, Bob perpetuates the vision of Willie to help area youth by establishing this endowed scholarship.
“I’d like this scholarship to help as many kids as possible, as much as possible,” he said.
Bob currently serves as a consultant to the WGA Caddie Scholarship Fund and the Metropolitan Golf Association. He and his wife Beverly live in White Plains, New York.