Pro Football Hall of Famer Harry Carson will host a celebrity golf tournament sponsored by BB&T on May 19-20 to support Florence public education, The School Foundation has announced.
The Harry Carson Celebrity Golf Classic, presented by BB&T and slated for the Country Club of South Carolina, will be the first-ever celebrity golf event in the Pee Dee and the first to honor Carson, a businessman, nine-time Pro Bowl participant and graduate of Florence schools. Carson attended Wilson High and graduated from McClenaghan High. He served as his senior class president. He went on to South Carolina State University where he earned a B.S. degree in education. The two-time captain never missed a game during his four seasons as a defensive lineman for the Bulldogs.
Harry Carson’s 13-year stint with the New York Football Giants is one of the longest in club history. He was named to the All-NFL team 7 times and the All-NFC team 8 times, and NFC Linebacker of the Year twice. He once made an amazing 25 tackles in a Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers. He is among the top 300 players to ever play in the National Football League.
After retiring from football after the 1988 season, Carson began a career in sports broadcasting. Among others, he has hosted CNN’s “NFL Preview” and is currently a member of the New York Giants pre-season broadcasting team.
Money raised will go to The School Foundation, which supports Florence School District 1 schools.
“Through the efforts of The School Foundation, we have seen a marked improvement in support for education in our area. We hope that, with the support of BB&T and other businesses and individuals in the area, we will produce a better generation of community leaders for Florence and our nation,” said Frank James, Senior Vice President with BB&T.
Carson has supported the Foundation since its inception and was honored as the district’s Distinguished Graduate in 2004. Carson is newly elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, only the second South Carolinian since Art Shell from Charleston in 1989. Carson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in August. Carson was inducted into the first class of the Florence Area Hall of Fame this past January.
“We have an obligation to fulfill,” Carson said. “We have come from this system and in order to perpetuate a better future, we are obligated to fulfill the needs of the children of Florence School District 1. I am very proud of the efforts of the community and the financial support we’ve received. As well, I am particularly proud of the many volunteers who find this mission for our schools important enough to coordinate what will be one of the area’s finest golf classics. Participants from all over the country will have the opportunity to play in this event and share in the support of The School Foundation.”
“The event has ignited support beyond the Pee Dee,” said Trip DuBard, chairman of The School Foundation. “We have received such a warm response throughout the state for Harry and this tournament, and we couldn’t be any more excited about the support we are receiving for this event. With BB&T as a presenting sponsor of the first tournament, I believe we have a unique opportunity to establish this as the premier golfing event in this part of the state. This is another example of how dedicated community leaders have become to providing better educational opportunities for our children.”
Celebrities scheduled to attend as of March 3 are Harry Carson, Pro Hall of Fame new inductee, Carl Banks, Brian Kelley, Brad Van Pelt, Mike Friede and Michael Strahan, all of the N.Y. Giants; Ricky Proehl, Carolina Panthers; John Riggins, Washington Redskins, Pro Hall of Fame; Jim Stuckey, San Francisco 49ers; George Rogers, Heisman Trophy 1980, New Orleans Saints; Jeremiah Trotter, Philadelphia Eagles; Joe DeLamielleure, Buffalo Bills, Pro Hall of Fame; Willie Jeffries, former head coach, SC State University and Michael Dean Perry, Clemson, Cleveland Browns.
For information visit The School Foundation’s web site www.theschoolfoundation.org or call 662-9996.
Donations supporting Florence School District 1 can be made online at the foundation's Web site, www.theschoolfoundation.org, or by mailing to the foundation, 320 W. Cheves Street, Suite 171, Florence, SC 29501. For more information, call (843) 662-9996.
