The Western Golf Association (WGA) is the lifeblood of the Evans Scholars program. Without their continued concern and general interest in caddies, the scholarship program would cease to exist.
The history and tradition that is the WGA began in 1899 when a group of men got together to form an organization that would represent golfers west of the Alleghenies. This initial purpose of the organization was to stage Open and Amateur Championships for the golfers of the west to showcase their talents. The sport of golf was spreading like a grass fire across the prairies of America, and nowhere was it more popular than the flourishing metropolitan area of Chicago.
The home of the WGA is Golf, Illinois, and it was there at the Glen View Club that the first Western Golf Association events were contested in 1899. The Western Open, which is the second oldest championship in the nation, has since evolved into one of the top events on the PGA tour, and the Western Amateur has also taken its place among the great championships. In 1914, a Junior Championship was added to the WGA tournament schedule, the first such competition in the history of American golf.
When Chick first approached the WGA with the idea of using his fund to send caddies to college, he was told to look elsewhere; finding needy caddies was far too removed from WGA’s purposes. Chick would not let the idea die. In 1929, he approached the WGA once again. Perhaps it was persistence, and certainly WGA considered the impressive reputation of the man behind the effort, but this time WGA embraced the idea and agreed to administer his fund. It was the beginning of the Evans Scholars Foundation.
Chick’s dream came true in 1930. Having interested Northwestern University in the program, WGA awarded Harold Fink and Jim McGinnis its first scholarships to attend the university. Until the end of World War II, all Evans Scholars continued to attend Northwestern, and it was here that the first Evans Scholars Chapter House was established. Tuition to Northwestern in 1930 was $150 per year, and plenty of Chick’s money was left over. Naturally, he wanted to do more.
The WGA had to find more caddies. Under the direction of J. Leslie Rollins, the Dean of Men at Northwestern, the WGA board established three basic requirements for selection: scholarship, fellowship, and leadership. They picked a dozen more scholarship winners. In the process, the directors participating in the selection process were hooked. The program, originally turned down by the WGA, was a success.
When Chick’s money was exhausted, the WGA directors perpetuated the caddie scholarship program leaving money on the boardroom table after a day of interviews and selections. This “collection plate” process was the sole means of the revenue through the early 1940’s until the WGA began to solicit funds outside the Association.
During World War II and immediately thereafter, Jack Kennan, Executive Vice President of the WGA, and Leo Krantz, head of the Physical Education Department at Northwestern, took charge of the program. After the war, the Evans idea – and the solicitation methods – kicked into high gear, and program began to expand.
In 1949, Roland F. “Mac” McGuigan, Dean of Men at Northwestern and faculty Adviser to the Northwestern Chapter of Evans Scholars, was appointed Educational Director. During his nearly 40-year tenure, thirteen new Chapters were founded, bringing the total to fourteen. In order of the founding, the Evans Scholars Chapters are:
The history and tradition that is the WGA began in 1899 when a group of men got together to form an organization that would represent golfers west of the Alleghenies. This initial purpose of the organization was to stage Open and Amateur Championships for the golfers of the west to showcase their talents. The sport of golf was spreading like a grass fire across the prairies of America, and nowhere was it more popular than the flourishing metropolitan area of Chicago.
The home of the WGA is Golf, Illinois, and it was there at the Glen View Club that the first Western Golf Association events were contested in 1899. The Western Open, which is the second oldest championship in the nation, has since evolved into one of the top events on the PGA tour, and the Western Amateur has also taken its place among the great championships. In 1914, a Junior Championship was added to the WGA tournament schedule, the first such competition in the history of American golf.
When Chick first approached the WGA with the idea of using his fund to send caddies to college, he was told to look elsewhere; finding needy caddies was far too removed from WGA’s purposes. Chick would not let the idea die. In 1929, he approached the WGA once again. Perhaps it was persistence, and certainly WGA considered the impressive reputation of the man behind the effort, but this time WGA embraced the idea and agreed to administer his fund. It was the beginning of the Evans Scholars Foundation.
Chick’s dream came true in 1930. Having interested Northwestern University in the program, WGA awarded Harold Fink and Jim McGinnis its first scholarships to attend the university. Until the end of World War II, all Evans Scholars continued to attend Northwestern, and it was here that the first Evans Scholars Chapter House was established. Tuition to Northwestern in 1930 was $150 per year, and plenty of Chick’s money was left over. Naturally, he wanted to do more.
The WGA had to find more caddies. Under the direction of J. Leslie Rollins, the Dean of Men at Northwestern, the WGA board established three basic requirements for selection: scholarship, fellowship, and leadership. They picked a dozen more scholarship winners. In the process, the directors participating in the selection process were hooked. The program, originally turned down by the WGA, was a success.
When Chick’s money was exhausted, the WGA directors perpetuated the caddie scholarship program leaving money on the boardroom table after a day of interviews and selections. This “collection plate” process was the sole means of the revenue through the early 1940’s until the WGA began to solicit funds outside the Association.
During World War II and immediately thereafter, Jack Kennan, Executive Vice President of the WGA, and Leo Krantz, head of the Physical Education Department at Northwestern, took charge of the program. After the war, the Evans idea – and the solicitation methods – kicked into high gear, and program began to expand.
In 1949, Roland F. “Mac” McGuigan, Dean of Men at Northwestern and faculty Adviser to the Northwestern Chapter of Evans Scholars, was appointed Educational Director. During his nearly 40-year tenure, thirteen new Chapters were founded, bringing the total to fourteen. In order of the founding, the Evans Scholars Chapters are:
Founding Date University Chapter
1940 Northwestern University Alpha
1951 University of Illinois Beta
1952 University of Michigan Gamma
1953 University of Wisconsin Delta
1955 Michigan State University Epsilon
1955 Marquette University Zeta
1958 University of Minnesota Eta
1962 Ohio State University Theta
1967 Purdue University Iota
1967 University of Colorado Kappa
1968 University of Missouri Lambda
1969 Indiana University Mu
1974 Miami University Nu
1987 Northern Illinois University Omicron
1940 Northwestern University Alpha
1951 University of Illinois Beta
1952 University of Michigan Gamma
1953 University of Wisconsin Delta
1955 Michigan State University Epsilon
1955 Marquette University Zeta
1958 University of Minnesota Eta
1962 Ohio State University Theta
1967 Purdue University Iota
1967 University of Colorado Kappa
1968 University of Missouri Lambda
1969 Indiana University Mu
1974 Miami University Nu
1987 Northern Illinois University Omicron
Without WGA’s continued concern for the program, the rapid growth of the Evans Scholars Foundation would not have been possible. Today, the Evans Scholars Foundation has become golf’s favorite charity. Proceeds from the WGA Bag Tag Program, the Par Club, the Western Open, special gifts, and the alumni contributions continue to support the program. The WGA’s caddie program, designed to make golf more enjoyable through better caddies, is used nationwide.
In addition to the WGA’s support, 22 state and local Golf Associations (GA) co-sponsor the program: Arizona GA, Buffalo District Association, Chicago District Association, Colorado GA, GA of Michigan, Greater Cincinnati GA, Illinois Women’s GA, Indiana GA, Kansas City GA, Kentucky GA, Northern California GA, Ohio GA, Oregon GA, Pacific Northwest GA, South Dakota GA, St. Louis District GA, Syracuse District GA, Toledo District GA, and Wisconsin State GA. The WGA counts this tremendous growth of support for the Evans Scholarship Program as one of its greatest accomplishments.
James E. Moore, appointed Assistant Educational Director in 1967 by Mac McGuigan, became Educational Director in July 1989. Evans Scholars Alumnus Jeffrey C. Harrison was appointed Assistant Educational Director in January 1990. Under their direction, the program continues to prosper. Over 800 Evans Scholars are currently enrolled in universities across the nation. Over 7,000 have already graduated.
All that the Evans Scholars Foundation has achieved goes back to the dream of one man, Chick Evans. Although married for 40 years, Chick and his wife Esther were childless. Yet when he died in 1979, Chick had more than 4,000 “sons and daughters” through the success of the Evans Scholars Foundation – all of them ex-caddies who became Evans Scholars and obtained college educations because of his life-long dedication to their welfare.
In 2008 Jim Moore was named Senior Vice President of Foundation Advancement and subsequently, Jeff Harrison was named Vice President of Education.
Brian Shell and Mike Maher, the Educational Director and Associate Educational Director, spend part of their year traveling to all 14 houses for formal chapters and play an important role in the success of every scholarship house.
In addition to the WGA’s support, 22 state and local Golf Associations (GA) co-sponsor the program: Arizona GA, Buffalo District Association, Chicago District Association, Colorado GA, GA of Michigan, Greater Cincinnati GA, Illinois Women’s GA, Indiana GA, Kansas City GA, Kentucky GA, Northern California GA, Ohio GA, Oregon GA, Pacific Northwest GA, South Dakota GA, St. Louis District GA, Syracuse District GA, Toledo District GA, and Wisconsin State GA. The WGA counts this tremendous growth of support for the Evans Scholarship Program as one of its greatest accomplishments.
James E. Moore, appointed Assistant Educational Director in 1967 by Mac McGuigan, became Educational Director in July 1989. Evans Scholars Alumnus Jeffrey C. Harrison was appointed Assistant Educational Director in January 1990. Under their direction, the program continues to prosper. Over 800 Evans Scholars are currently enrolled in universities across the nation. Over 7,000 have already graduated.
All that the Evans Scholars Foundation has achieved goes back to the dream of one man, Chick Evans. Although married for 40 years, Chick and his wife Esther were childless. Yet when he died in 1979, Chick had more than 4,000 “sons and daughters” through the success of the Evans Scholars Foundation – all of them ex-caddies who became Evans Scholars and obtained college educations because of his life-long dedication to their welfare.
In 2008 Jim Moore was named Senior Vice President of Foundation Advancement and subsequently, Jeff Harrison was named Vice President of Education.
Brian Shell and Mike Maher, the Educational Director and Associate Educational Director, spend part of their year traveling to all 14 houses for formal chapters and play an important role in the success of every scholarship house.