Since it was a cool , fall day , warm hats were provided for each of the golfers . They were provided by Fresh Paint , a Hugo painting contractor .
Despite the modifications , there were still several traditions that remained the same , such as contests on the course and winners being recognized :
Longest Drive Men - Shane Sienko , Blue Line Logistics
Closest to the Pin Women - Jennifer Bessinger
Longest Putt Men - Rick Lucio , Hallberg Engineering
Closest to the Pin Men - Matt Ginter
Longest Drive Women - Pam Caruth , Fairway Collision
Longest Putt Women - Becky Bjorgum , Innovize
Debby Gustafson , TCM and Chris Klohn , Bell Bank check out the hats given out by sponsor Fresh Paint .
In 2020 , the event was scaled back to 60 golfers participating in the event . The money raised goes into VHEDC ’ s Business Education Partnership Fund , which addresses local workforce development issues .
Programs supported include GenZ , which is a collaborative partnership between VHEDC , White Bear Lake Area Schools , White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation , Ramsey County Workforce programs and local manufacturing businesses .
To sign up for a sponsorship , or purchase individual tickets , go to VHEDC . com / event / keith-warnermemorial-glf-tournament .
2021 KEITH WARNER MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Keith Warner had a passion for helping people and was committed to getting things done . He was bestowed numerous awards for his outstanding commitment to community service and was honored before his death with the mayor of White Bear Lake declaring November 25 , 2013 as “ Keith Warner Day .”
His most notable impact to the local community was as co-founder , with his wife Patty , of the Relay for Life event in White Bear Lake , in remembrance of their daughter , Lori , who passed away from colon cancer . Warner ’ s family genetics carry a variation called Lynch Syndrome which predisposes them to various cancers early in life . Keith himself beat three different cancers in his lifetime , with the fourth — cancer of the brain — taking his life December 10 , 2013 .
Over the past 20 years , the annual WBL Relay event , held the last Friday in July , has raised over $ 4 million for the American Cancer Society . Keith was eternally grateful to the scores of dedicated volunteers and relay teams who donated their time and hearts to the cause .
Keith Warner served as the VHEDC ’ s executive director from 2008 – 2013 after retiring from the baking and
ABOUT KEITH WARNER
milling industries . He is credited with transforming VHEDC ’ s organizational focus from “ Open for Business ” to “ Taking Care of Business ” according to former Vadnais Heights City Administrator , Gerry Urban .
“ Keith was a master organizer and brought people together , dialing down objectives and transforming people ’ s ideas to get things done . He was a bulldog — persistent until you said ‘ yes ’ — and then hand-picked people to make it happen .” It was a simple but effective leadership style , according to Urban .
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