The Lary Loew Hilltopper Golf Scramble brought alumni and community supporters of West Liberty University together and resulted in increased support for athletic scholarships on the Hilltop.
Held at the Arnold Palmer Golf Course, Oglebay Resort, this past Monday, 28 teams of four participated in the scramble named after alumnus Lary Loew, formerly of Wheeling.
“I’m so pleased with the turn-out and the support for Hilltopper Athletics, our students and their academic futures. We are especially grateful for the ongoing support of the Loew family and their business, The Cornerstone Group,” said Head Football Coach Roger Waialae, who hosts the event with the support of the Alumni Office.
Waialae’s wife Karen is the head golf professional at Oglebay Resort and the annual scramble luncheon is held at the Waialae’s home, located on the Palmer Course. All funds raised through the golf scramble support scholarships for the WLU football program.
Besides Cornerstone and the Loew family, other major sponsors include: Grand Vue Park, Hole ‘n Run, Progressive Bank and TJ’s Sports Garden Restaurant who catered the dinner that followed the scramble.
Loew died in 2012 at age 59, after a serious illness and the annual Hilltopper Golf Scramble was then renamed in his honor.
Loew studied economics at WLU, graduating with honors in 1975. He was an award-winning professional for the Equitable Life Assurance Society (now AXA Financial) and was inducted into the its Hall of Fame. He also founded his own company, The Cornerstone Group, the only full-service employee benefits agency in West Virginia.
“Lary was an avid supporter of WLU athletics and its educational mission and because of his huge interest in golf, he left an impression on many golfers, so this is a perfect way to memorialize him every June. West Liberty University is fortunate to enjoy the support of the Loew family and all our alumni and friends who make it a very special event,” said Alumni Director Ron Witt.
Loew was added to the WLU Alumni Wall of Honor – the highest honor the alumni association can bestow on a graduate – in 2011. His sisters, Brenda Thomas, Sharon Saseen and Carol Loew support the golf scramble and the university in many ways. Additionally, Lary’s companion, Colleen Blon, also greatly contributes to the effort.
Loew was active in the Wheeling community and served on the boards of the West Liberty University Foundation, Northwood Health System, American Legion Post 1 and the West Virginia Golf Association. He had a passion for golf and enjoyed playing many courses with his friends/brothers. He served as commissioner of the Oglebay Golf Gang and was an active member of the Lunch Bunch at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, S.C.
WLU is a member of the NCAA and the Mountain East Conference and offers a wide range of intercollegiate athletics at the NCAA Division II level, including men’s football, cross country, basketball, wrestling, track, tennis, baseball and golf; women’s softball, volleyball, cross country, basketball, track, tennis, golf and soccer. The Hilltopper Football Team opens its 2015 season at home when WLU takes on Concord University in a 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5, game at West Family Stadium.
For more information or to be placed on the mailing list for the Lary Loew Golf Scramble 2016, please visit www.westliberty.edu or call 304.336.8888.
