PGA Golfer Appeals To Public for Tips on His Missing Father

Image: Willard (Bill) Hurley Jr. (Leesburg Police Department)

A PGA golfer playing in this week’s Quicken Loans National made a tearful appeal Tuesday to the public for information about his missing father.

Speaking at a news conference at the site of the golf tournament, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Billy Hurley III described how his father, Willard (Bill) Hurley Jr., 61, left his Leesburg home on July 19 in a pickup truck and hasn’t been heard from since, WTTG-TV Channel 5 reported.

The elder Hurley is a retired Prince William County police officer, WRC-TV Channel 4 reported. His wife filed a missing person report Monday with the Leesburg Police Department.

After leaving Leesburg, Hurley used a credit card for gas on July 19 in Woodstock, Va. Last Thursday, he stayed overnight at a hotel in Texarkana, Texas, the Leesburg police said.

At Tuesday’s news conference, the younger Hurley said his father has no history of mental problems, and talked about how he worked security as a police officer years ago at President’s Cup tournaments at the Robert Trent Jones course. That’s where Billy got his first exposure to big-time golf, he said.

He said he decided to play this week because his father might watch on TV or check his score and decide to come home, according to an Associated press report. The Quicken Loans National tournament begins Thursday and concludes Sunday.

Willard Hurley Jr. is an employee at the Reston Bible Church, according to media reports. On its website, the church posted an appeal for prayers for his safe return, and a statement from his son:

“Last Sunday, nine days ago, my dad took some clothes, he took some cash, he got in his truck and drove away and no one has heard from him since. So he’s been gone about nine days, I guess. No one really knows why. It’s complete speculation as to why he left.

“He’s been married to my mom for 30-plus years. You know, they still live in the house that I grew up in in Leesburg and I’m just hoping that there’s a story – that maybe he goes to pgatour.com to check my tee time or check my score and sees this and understands that dad, we love you and we want you to come home.”

Willard Hurley Jr. is described as white, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds with brown eyes and gray hair.

He left his home in Leesburg in his green 1998 Ford F-150 pickup truck, with Virginia license plate number YWH-5898, the Leesburg police said. The truck has a camper shell on the back.

The Leesburg Police Department is asking that anyone who has any information or may have seen Hurley or his vehicle to call tham immediately at (703) 771-4500. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the Leesburg Crime Line at (703) 443-TIPS (8477).

The department can also receive information from the public using a program called TIPSUBMIT. Tips about a specific crime or criminal activity can be sent by text, email or smartphone. Simply text LPDTIP plus your message to 274637.