JDRF, the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, hosted its annual Cliff Harris JDRF Reunion Golf Classic at Dallas Athletic Club Monday, June 18, 2018. This year’s tournament commemorated Super Bowl XIII, where the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers battled at the Orange Bowl in Miami on January 21, 1979. In honor of this, JDRF arranged for Joe Greene, the Steelers’ defensive tackle in Super Bowl XIII and fellow Texas native, to attend the tournament. Over the course of Greene’s 13-year career, all of which was played with the Steelers, Greene was voted to 10 Pro Bowls and named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in both 1972 and 1974.
This year’s tournament ended the day full of friendly competition with lively clubhouse festivities, including a Q&A with Cliff Harrisand Joe Greene, a silent and live auction and an awards ceremony. The tournament raised more than $330,000 in support of JDRF’s mission to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes.
O.J. “Buddy” Harris, Cliff Harris’ father, was diagnosed with T1D at age 24. Because of this disease, Buddy was unable to conquer his dream of being a jet test pilot but he was able to cheer Cliff on in his first Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys. Shortly thereafter, diabetes took his vision, and he was unable to watch Cliff go on to play in another four Super Bowls. Bud is the reason Cliff is dedicated to JDRF’s mission, and it is passionate volunteers like Cliff who have helped JDRF achieve important milestones. Advances in type 1 diabetes research (T1D) are helping people live longer and with fewer complications.
This year’s tournament was a reunion celebration for many of the Super Bowl competitors and other NFL greats. Former NFL stars in attendance included: Donny Anderson,Roger Staubach, DD Lewis, Mel Renfro, Mike Renfro, Rayfield Wright, Lyle Blackwood, Norm Bulaich, Gary Hammond, Chad Hennings, Preston Pearson, Kurt Petersen andEverson Walls.Several other local figures joined in the fun, including: former wide receiver for the Ouachita Baptist Tigers and Ouachita Baptist Athletics Hall of Famer Doug Freeze, , former NBA Phoenix Suns Forward Ira Terrell,Actor Burton ‘Bubba’ Gilliam, former Texas Rangers pitcher Don Stanhouse, CBS Sports Analyst and former college coach, Houston Nutt, former Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs player, Jose Guzman, andOuachita Baptist University head basketball coach and former NBA player, Dennis Nutt. Title Sponsors included; Rich Dealy, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Pioneer Natural Resources; Derek McCoy, vice president, general manager North Texas market; and Ish Arebalos, public affairs and communications relations for Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.
Thank you to our sponsors, Pioneer Natural Resources, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Aimbridge Hospitality, Chief Oil & Gas, Kayne Anderson Energy Funds, PT Petroleum, Essilor - Dr John Fain, Air X Changers/Eads and Associates, Alegacy Equipment, Ariel, Atmos Energy, Coldwell Banker- Terri Pescatore & Di Wright, Diamond Back, Energy Transfer Partners, Folsom Properties, HEXP Resources, Prime Controls, ProPetro, Rosemary Haggar Vaughan Family Foundation, Saulsbury Industries, Sewell Audi of McKinney, Sewell Cadillac of Dallas, Star Electric, Strike, Vankor LLC and Vitol.
ABOUT JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.?JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, policy influence, and a working plan to bring life- changing therapies from the lab to the community. As the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF has invested nearly $2B in research over the past 47 years and is sponsoring scientific research in 17 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit jdrf.org.