Page 36 - Jan Sun Rays

Continued from the previous page in swampy waters – or that donations “All of the golf guys wanted to have [Don]
keep on coming in. Every one dozen golf recognized for the effort,” added golfer
Any ball with a scratch, dent or ding was balls delivered to the Courses at Clear Wayne Courtney. “Without him, there
immediately discarded; those passing Creek saves a soldier roughly $30. With would have never been the continuing
this initial inspection were then soaked over 13,000 golf balls refurbished as of effort to help our troops.”
in cleaning solution for at least two this printing, Don’s efforts have saved
days before being wiped clean, dried soldiers an estimated $32,500 over the One after another, Don’s friends
and parceled into packs of one dozen. past seven years. applauded his efforts:
Because security at Fort Hood is tight,
a delivery of golf balls could take up Of course, you’ll never hear Don say these “Don is the man,” said one friend.
an entire day, so Don strives to have a things. In a world increasingly overrun
minimum of 1,000 cleaned and packaged with egos and hubris, Don Lumpkins “I’ve always felt pride for what you are
golf balls ready to go on any trip. Once is humble to the core. “The golf ball doing!” said another.
his deliveries are made to the Courses at collection for the troops at Fort Hood is
Clear Creek, Don helps the pros furnish a Neighborhood 34 effort,” he declares, “You started it,” declared a third, “and
each set of rental clubs with a handful “not just mine.” During our meeting, he kept pushing till it was an ongoing
of the refurbished golf balls. expressed a hope that this article would project… you delivered the results to Fort
inspire others in Sun City to contribute Hood… you deserve to be recognized.”
In 2014, after six years of delivering to the donations, all the while crediting
golf balls to the Courses at Clear Creek, the success of the initiative to teamwork. In addition to being friendly and warm,
Fort Hood granted Don his own official Don Lumpkins is, evidently, also quite
clearance pass. Don says as long as Some, however, took a slightly different lucky – lucky for friends who share in his
there is a need for them, he will continue view. In response to Don’s insistence thoughtfulness and support him in his
gathering, cleaning and delivering golf on sharing credit equally, friend and effort to give a little something extra to
balls to the soldiers at Fort Hood. It neighbor Rich Koskie replied, “Don, you the soldiers of Fort Hood. Actions may
doesn’t hurt that Don seems to enjoy are the man who carried this ‘ball.’ We speak louder than words, but in the
the hunt – he’s even acquired a pair donated, but you literally carried the case of Don Lumpkins and his friends,
of snake boots for hunting golf balls balls. Take a bow, please, for all of us.” it would seem that the opposite can also
be true.

WHAT A YEAR!

On December 10, the Sun City Quilters made their last quilt/blanket delivery to Williamson County Children’s Advocacy
Center for the year 2015. 104 quilts/blankets were delivered, making a total of 292 donated for the year – the largest
number finished in a year to date! Pictured left to right: Virginia Reid, Barbara Smotrich, Karen Dobrowolski, Marlene
Armstrong, Shirley Miller, Stepha Conrad, Janice Spoor, Judy Schriner, Margaret Larson, Nancy Benkovic, Darlene
Knoepke, Mary Forbes, & Joan Wertzberger.

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