Golf Tournament Remembers Herb Calhoun

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Seventy-six participants turned out to support a Fundraiser Remembrance Golf Tournament for the late Herb Calhoun: loving husband to Maggie, father, brother and friend to everyone he met.

The Tournament was held at Falcon Ridge Golf Course on Tuesday, April 5. A banquet and short ceremony were held at Scotty’s Bar and Grill immediately after the tournament play.

Organizers of the event included Jim Webb, Al Paez and David Watson who were close friends to Calhoun.

The Mesquite Show Girls were there greeting participants and attendees, selling raffle tickets and handling the silent auction in this fundraiser.

There was a beautiful commemorative plaque sitting at the entry. “The plaque will be placed on the Legends Bench at the softball field above Veterans Park. on Hillside Drive,” explained Jim Webb.
Calhoun and his wife, Maggie, came to Mesquite in 2010, after Herb had retired from his air traffic controllers’ job. Almost immediately Calhoun jumped into playing golf and getting a senior softball league started. The league was called the Geezers.

Anyone who ventured over to the softball field, even just to look, was recruited by Calhoun. He started with two teams and grew the program to the four teams that still play today.

“We got together to do this tribute to Herb, not only because of his senior softball, but his love for the Virgin Valley Little League and the community,” said Webb. “He promoted and volunteered his time to everything that was going on.”

Ron Hirschman plays on one of the Geezer softball teams. “I came to support the golf tournament because Herb was the nicest guy in the world,” Hirschman said.
Al Paez met Calhoun in 2011. “I walked on the field and Herb got me,” Paez said.

Calhoun was active in many organizations. He was past President for Mesquite Senior Games and he frequently participated in the games.
“His favorite was the 100-meter race,” said Paez.

Mesquite Senior Games Director Amy Bradshaw and some of the MSG board members were in attendance at last week’s event to show support.

Herb’s widow Maggie Calhoun expressed gratitude for what had been done in remembrance of her husband.
“I am very impressed with the overwhelming love and respect shown by his friends,” she said. “Herb also loved and respected them. But he would have had a tough time expressing his grateful feelings.”
All proceeds from the event will go to charities. Fifty percent will go to support the Virgin Valley Little League. Maggie will determine the other charities that will benefit.

“We want to thank all of the people who volunteered to help put this together,” said Paez. “We also appreciate all the individuals and local business who donated for the drawings and silent auction. We made $1200 just off of the hole sponsorships.”

“Everyone is trying to pay forward, in Herbs name,” added Webb. “He was quite an inspiration to all of us. The softball league would not have survived without Herb Calhoun.”