Pat Clutter Memorial Golf Scramble Held for 28th Year at Oglebay
Derek Redd Trending
WHEELING -- In the 28 years that the Pat Clutter Memorial Golf Scramble has been held, organizers say the late former WTRF news director and Wheeling Park High School teacher has been looking down and making sure the course stays dry.
Only twice, they say, has rain delayed the event. It may be hot and humid, but not soggy.
When golfers took the Crispin Course at Oglebay Park Resort on Friday, they were treated to a gorgeous day on the links, one organizers felt Clutter cooked up for the occasion. It allowed everyone the opportunity to play for a good cause - the Pat Clutter Memorial Scholarships awarded to aspiring communications students each year.
The annual scramble is a way to marry two of his loves, Clutter's wife Angie said.
"My husband would be so proud," she said. "He loved that (journalism) field, loved it. He used to eat and sleep it. And when he was teaching at Wheeling Park, too, he didn't short anybody. He always gave it his all and it makes me feel good that he would know all these people are going to benefit from something he loved to do."
Clutter died in 1997 from melanoma and every year since, the golf scramble has been held in his honor to fund the scholarship in his name. This year's winners were Wheeling Park High students Maliah Miskiewicz and Kylie Forshey, who each received $2,500.
A full slate of 36 teams took to the Crispin Course on Friday, with the proceeds helping fund the scholarship. Clutter's daughter Crissy said that so much money has been raised over the years that the scramble is no longer necessary to keep the scholarship's coffers full. But while it might not be something they have to do, it continues to be something they want to do.
"We love to see all the people who come into town," she said, "the family, the friends that come into help. It's like a reunion for us every year to remember my dad. He's been gone for almost three decades, but people who are strangers know who my dad is because of this scramble."
In the end, the scramble soldiers on to help students and parents navigate the costs of a college education as they learn more about the communications field. Clutter Scholarship board member David Flatley said it is a wonderful thing to continue to promote and support things that were such important parts of Clutter's life.
"He loved the field of communications and he loved teaching it," Flatley said. "In 1985, he was still working in radio and had just started in television, and he was walking out of those studios and right into the classroom to teach. He loved the fact that the students were excelling.
"So for us to continue to do this in his name and to shepherd careers along in the field of communications, it's a good feeling."