The Second Annual Hudson Powell Scholarship Golf Tournament is set for Friday at Forest Heights Country Club.
The tournament honors the memory of Powell, a beloved Statesboro dentist, and raises money to fund a $10,000 scholarship for a local student qualified and accepted for dental school or for a student actively enrolled in dental school. Powell, who began his practice in 1979, is remembered for his kindness to every patient and devotion to his profession. Powell passed away in April 2013, a victim of cancer at age 59.
"Our initial tournament was a wonderful and successful occasion with a full field of golfers teeing it up in remembrance of Hudson," said Katherine Jones, a co-chair for the tournament along with Clyde Redding.
The tournament's morning field will register Friday at 8 a.m. and tee off at 9 a.m. The afternoon field will register at noon, with tee time at 1 p.m.
Jones said the entry fees include 18 holes of golf, a cart, lunch and prizes.
"We were truly impressed with the field of golfers who participated last year," Redding said. "It was an enjoyable day, while funding the annual scholarship to a worthy student."
Justin Ragan, a senior dental student at Georgia Regents University in Augusta, recently was awarded the second Powell scholarship.
"We felt Justin had many of the same attributes as Dr. Powell, including being dedicated to serving his hometown after graduation," Redding said. "Justin's response to winning the award confirms we made an excellent choice."
Ragan said: "I am humbled and deeply honored to have been recognized as the recipient of the 2015 Dr. Hudson J. Powell Sr. Memorial Scholarship. I am thankful to the family of the late Dr. Powell and the scholarship committee for believing that I possess some of the same attributes that made Dr. Powell such a widely respected dentist and an even more highly regarded human being. (Katherine) Jones told me Dr. Powell did not worry about numbers and quotas because he knew if he performed good dentistry and treated his patients with kindness, success would take care of itself. I love Statesboro and the Eagles just as Dr. Powell did, and it will always be a second home to me."
Jones joined Powell's practice in 1980, serving as a dental assistant and later the business manager.
"Hudson will be forever in our hearts, and it is our hope we keep a legacy alive by helping future dental students to achieve their dreams," Jones said. "Hudson was an excellent dentist, but more importantly, he was a good man."
Anyone wanting to play golf Friday or make a donation should contact Katherine Jones at (912) 764-6861.