Aries Engineering Golf League: The passing of a friend

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The passing of a friend

It is with regrets that I am making this post. One of our oldest members of the league has passed away - Jim Wilcox. I spoke with his partner Wes today, who informed me that Jim passed away Saturday night around 9pm. Wes said the preliminary arrangements are for a showing at Walker Funeral Home this Thursday at 1pm. I would suggest for you to check with the Blade obits for details.

I have had the priviledge of knowing Jim for the last 7 years, as long as I have been on the league. Jim was always a kind and good friend to me, willing to help and advise as I needed it. Jim was on the league for well over 40 years, and was a league sponsor for many of those years. I appreciated Jims humor, and his friendship as a fellow golfer. I have a few pictures to post in memory of Jim - he will certainly be missed by many of us.

1 comment:

Terry K. said...: Jim was a class guy, a gentleman, and a friend. He certainly lived a full life, although too short. He will be missed by all who knew him.

What a great tribute all the photos displayed there were of Jim with family & friends.

Dan Fisher and I were at the funeral home visitation. Evidently the league members were there earlier than us. We hope to see you all yet this summer.

Terry Koral; June 19, 2009 at 9:59:00 PM EST

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League History

The Dura Golf League (sponsored by Dura Corp.) was established in 1946, and played at Ottawa Park Golf Course until 1956. In 1957, the league moved from Ottawa Park to Chippewa Country Club, and remained there through 1967.

In 1961, league member and Dura worker Pat Upton passed away. Pat was an excellent amateur athlete and golfer who’s family ancestors have Upton Avenue named for them. In 1962, the league dedicated the current trophy to Pat’s memory. Since 1962, the annual champions names have been engraved on the trophy.

In 1968, the Dura League moved from Chippewa Country Club to the newly opened Whiteford Valley Golf Course. As of 1979, there was no more room on the trophy for the champions names, so the league had an extension attached to the original base of the trophy. In 1992, the league lost the sponsorship from Dura Corp. when the company closed their plant in Toledo. In 1993, Jim Wilcox, a former Dura employee and machinery broker, took over the sponsorship of the newly designated Wilcox Machinery Golf League.

In 2001, Jim went into semi retirement and the league went through another sponsorship change. Systems control entrepreneur Mike Nagy Sr. assumed sponsorship of the newly named M&N Controls Golf League beginning in 2002.

During the 2004 season, the Pat Upton Memorial Trophy was refurbished through the efforts of league officers Russ Bohland, Tom Tinta, and Jim Wilcox.

In 2009, Todd Brieschke and his company, Aries Engineering, took over sponsorship of the league. A year later, (in 2010), the league members voted to move to Giant Oaks Golf Course in Temperance, Michigan, where it remains today.

Many of the league members have been involved for decades, and can recant many stories from far back, making this one of the oldest and most historic leagues in this area.