Trevor Denman Featured at Charity Golf Tournament

All one needs to do to hear Trevor Denman’s voice is visit whenever there is live racing there. Hearing him speak about his life and career is not as easy.

Here is an opportunity to do just that, particularly if you are a golfer.

The legendary horse racing announcer — who rarely makes public appearances — will be one of the featured celebrities at the third annual Sowing Seeds for Life charity tournament Thursday at Sierra La Verne Country Club.

He will be joined on a sports roundtable panel by boxer Sugar Shane Mosley of Pomona and former Laker assistant coach Frank Hamblen.

Bill Dwyre, a former sports editor of the Los Angeles Times who is now a columnist for the newspaper, will moderate the panel.

Also, the tournament is offering a unique hole-in-one prize — the use of Gulfstream GII private jet that seats 12 for a trip to such places as Las Vegas, Napa Valley or San Francisco.

The entry fee is $200 per golfer or $750 for a foursome.

Sowing Seeds for Life is a non-profit organization that provides food for people in difficult situations. Sowing Seeds for Life (SSFL) began distributing food in December 2007 to some 100 people a month in the La Verne area and now serves more than 6,000 a month.

The driving force behind Sowing Seeds and the tournament is Vicki Brown, the charity’s CEO as well as the CEO of DPI Labs, a prominent multimillion La Verne aerospace company. Brown will be honored at this year’s tournament for all she has done for the community. Brown literally planted the seeds that grew the charity and the tournament. Sowing Seeds For Life started out as a backyard garden project.

“I’m just proud to be the one who watches all this happen,” she said modestly.

Brown has assembled an energetic tournament committee headed by co-chairmen Tim Grant and Al Snow. Another key member is Greg DeSmet, the founder of DPI Labs.

This year’s best-ball scramble tournament will again have a noon shotgun start. 

The tournament is quickly becoming one of the best of its kind in the  San Gabriel Valley.

Last year, featured guests included NBA legends Jerry West, James Worthy, Elgin Baylor and Bill Sharman, plus former Dodgers Bill Russell, Tommy Davis and Al Downing.  Also on hand were former UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick, UCLA football and basketball play-by-play announcer Chris Roberts, a Glendora resident, and his broadcast  partner, former quarterback Matt Stevens, who led UCLA to a victory over Iowa in the 1987 Rose Bowl.

Bill Sharman, 85, one of only three men in the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach, is coming back. But because of a voice problem he has had for years, he will not be able to take part in the roundtable discussion. 

Last year, West, Worthy, Harrick and Russell participated in a sports panel discussion conducted by Dwyre and captivated the audience. You could hear a pin drop.

West could not return but sent an autographed ball to be auctioned off.

Tim Haas, the president of Tournament Golf & Travel, is the tournament coordinator. . Haas points out everyone can help with this project and help families in need of a good meal.

“Putting together a foursome is one way but also contact friends, relatives and business associates – everyone you know – and let them know about this great event,” he said.

Even non-golfers can contribute, Haas noted. “Be an event sponsor, purchase a tee or green sign, make a donation, donate a raffle or auction prize, purchase a helicopter golf ball drop ticket,” he said.

At least a portion of most donations is tax deductible.

For further information, go to www.sowingseedsforlife.org or contact Vicki Brown at 909 392-5777, ext. 213. Her e-mail address is vbrown@sowingseedsforlife.org. Also, Haas can be reached at 909 261-9617 or timhaastournamentgolf@yahoo.com.