Lombardi Golf Classic Set For June 10 to 11

It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get back up.
  – Vince Lombardi

He remains among the most legendary figures in sports history. He built, arguably, the greatest dynasty that pro football has ever seen. But Vincent Thomas Lombardi was so much more than wins and losses, championships and trophies.

He preached and stood for the very best qualities of the human spirit. Commitment. Faith. Discipline. Excellence. He taught his men to never give up, no matter what the odds.

“Winners never quit and quitters never win,” he’d say.

Though Lombardi inspired and drove his teams to so many victories, there was one foe he couldn’t defeat – colon cancer.  When he passed away on September 3, 1970 at the age of 57, those whose lives he touched wanted to continue the fight against cancer. They wanted to do it Lombardi’s way, the right way, in the spirit of excellence.

The result is the Vince Lombardi Golf Classic which has been held annually at in Menomonee Falls since 1971. The 41st edition of this popular, fan-friendly event will take place June 10 to 11 and, once again, co-chairs Bart and Cherry Starr will lead the way.

“It’s year 41 and we are all proud of it,” said Judy McGauran, executive director of Vince Lombardi Charitable Funds. “The tradition and history is rich and we are all excited about it. We get the retired Packers, some of the new Packers and then other folks that join us plus the participants.  It helps us raise the money and that’s what we need to do to give it all to the cancer clinics in southeastern Wisconsin.”

To date, the tournament has raised $14 million in the battle against all forms of cancer.

“We helped fund the cyber knife here and it was the very first one in Wisconsin,” said McGauran. “In the beginning, we started the immunotherapy laboratory at St. Luke’s.  We have contributed to a lot of projects and to patient care and education. Most recently, we donated and contributed to the Vince Lombardi Charitable Funds Healing Garden at St. Luke’s Medical Center.”

Former Packer guard Jerry Kramer said the medical center has been a great asset for the people of Wisconsin. He will once again tee it up at the this year’s Classic.

“I think they’ve done a wonderful thing for Coach Lombardi and a wonderful thing for the people in Wisconsin, not just Milwaukee,” Kramer said. “ They’re doing genetic testing to determine potential cancers and you might be subject to a certain cancer because of your genetic disposition.  That is cutting edge stuff and there’s not many clinics doing that.”

Kramer will be joined by several of his former teammates on the celebrity golfer list including Starr, Zeke Bratkowski, Dave Robinson and Gary Knafelc. Other notables will include Bob Uecker, Bonnie Blair, Lynn Dickey, comedian Arte Johnson and Packer radio voice Wayne Larrivee. There will also be appearances by members of the current Packer team to be announced at a later date.

As in previous years, fans are welcome to seek celebrity autographs but only in the Lombardi Classic program they receive when they enter the grounds. Fans are asked not to bring footballs, mini-helmets, pennants or other items to be signed.

In addition to the golf tournament, the Lombardi Walk/Run for Cancer will be held for the third straight year at the Milwaukee County Zoo on Saturday June 11.  Bart and Cherry Starr will on hand for the opening program and registration which begin at 6:30 a.m.  The walk/run starts at 8:30 a.m. and will be followed by an awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m.

The positive atmosphere at the Lombardi Classic is what brings players like Kramer back year after year.

“It’s the people involved, not only the players but the people who come to the classic are positive people,” Kramer said. “They’re trying to give something back and trying to make a contribution.  Just about everybody that comes to these things is doing it for the right reasons because they’re trying to help out. So that whole atmosphere pervades the tournament and it’s pleasant to be around those kinds of people.”

For more information about the Vince Lombardi Golf Classic, visit www.lombardiclassic.com.