Tourney raises $12,400 for Parkview

By Donna Hales and Leilani Roberts
Phoenix Staff Writers

September 15, 2007 02:09 am

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The Kristi Fry Charity Golf Tournament put about $11,000 into the coffers of the Oklahoma School for the Blind (Parkview) before the golfers teed off Friday.
By the end of the tournament, the winning teams added another $1,400 sparked by the challenge of the first-place team in the A flight.
During the awards ceremony, Phoenix Publisher Larry Corvi announced that Mike Ross of the M. Ross Inc. team turned its $800 team prize over to the school and challenged other team winners to do the same.
The other winners met that challenge, pumping up the total to the school to approximately $12,400.
“It’s awesome that we would exceed everybody’s expectations the first time,” said Vickie Fry, the widow of longtime Phoenix executive editor Kristi Fry. “Just the whole atmosphere of the day was unbelievable.”
When the tournament ended, golfers rallied at the back of Muskogee Country Club to see how they finished and pick up door prizes.
David Wright of Stigler, playing with Cross Telephone, won a bracelet — the perfect gift for his wife who just gave birth Wednesday to their third child, Gatlynn Beau.
“I love playing golf,” Wright said.
Mike McLamore of Muskogee thought his Black and Decker drill was a great door prize and the perfect end to a “beautiful day.”
Tim Payne’s door prize — a watch. He liked it, but said he’d been hoping to get “that fragrance package from Dillard’s — my wife would have loved that.”
Even before Vickie Fry knew the final total going to the school, she said: “I’m overwhelmed with the turnout — all the sponsors, the players and all the volunteers.
“I’m proud of everybody and grateful it was a success. And it’s for such a worthy cause. It’s just a great day.”
Kristi’s brother from South Carolina, Stephen Fry, Kristi’s oldest son Jarrod and one of Kristi’s nephews and a niece formed a team for the tournament.
Sherry Holder, outreach coordinator for Oklahoma School for the Blind, was ecstatic about the tournament and its results.
“Oh my — I’m so excited about this,” she said. “We need the money for things the legislature hasn’t made available, like low-vision equipment.”
She said some of the equipment needed costs from $795 to $3,000 for each piece. The bulk of the money the school received Friday will go for purchasing such equipment and on educational materials needed, she said.
“We have about 12 new students with very low vision, and they need low-vision devices that we don’t have,” Holder said.
Examples of the needed equipment were on display at the tournament site.
Some of the equipment will magnify up to 30 times. Other equipment will allow students to see their nails well enough for them to give themselves manicures, she said. Some students will be able to crochet and knit with the aid of the equipment. They will be able to write checks.
Golfer David Jones, CEO of Bank of Oklahoma in Muskogee, said he was having a great time participating in the tournament and honoring Kristi.
“This is a fun day,” said golfer and attorney Brett Smith. “It’s for a great cause in honor of a great man.”
Stephen Fry said the tournament was such an honor to his brother.
“He was such a conscientious type of guy,” Fry said. “Kristi prided himself on the impact he could have with those with disabilities. The tournament gave everybody an opportunity to have an impact.”
Kristi’s father, Maurice; his sister Suzanne and her husband; Vickie Fry’s only sibling, Jeannie Whitman, went from crying to smiling throughout the tournament. Kristi’s youngest son, Justin, who has disabilities, joined in the event.
Jarrod Fry said he was sure the day would have put a smile on his dad’s face.
“There isn’t a better charity that you could help — one of his biggest passions was to help,” Jarrod Fry said.
“Kristi always had a special place in his heart for those with disabilities, and the money raised from the tournament will definitely help the students at the School for the Blind,” Corvi said. “He was a golf enthusiast and was building a 9-hole golf course on his land before he died. He had one hole completed.
“We want to keep his memory and legacy going.”





How to help
Write a check payable to Oklahoma School for the Blind and mail it to Kristi Fry Charity Golf Tournament, Muskogee Phoenix, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee, Okla. 74402.

Winners
A flight — 1, M. Ross Inc.; 2, Muskogee Bridge; 3, Team Eight.
B flight — 1, Cross Telephone; 2, OG&E 3, Kellogg’s Snacks.
Closest to the pin — Mark Martin, diamond ring; Steve Fry, DVD player.
Longest drive — Dara Burge, female winner, fragrance gift bag; Paul Glover, male winner, fragrance gift bag.

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