Joe Dumphy Memorial Endowed Scholarship
“The harder I work, the luckier I get.”
Joe seemed to be “born” with an incredible work ethic. Initially it was baseball; he would constantly work on his swing or fielding in the yard, the basement, or the park. Win or lose; 5 for 5 or 0 for 5 in a game; flawless in the field or having committed multiple errors; Joe could be found working to improve his form for hours on end.
Once the “golf bug” bit, all of Joe’s efforts were put into golf. He initially worked to hone his skills in the yard, playing his homemade “course” with lightweight golf balls and at the golf course or range whenever he could get there. After Joe’s failed attempt at a makeshift hitting net in the back yard and breaking a window at a neighbor on the next street over’s house, it was time for Joe to join a golf club. After getting a membership to Chestatee Golf Club, he practically lived at the golf course.
While he may have been a very promising golfer, he strived to be an equally solid citizen. He knew golf is a game of honor and etiquette, and Joe sought to exemplify the finest qualities a golfer could have. He shared his talent with anyone who was willing to listen, as he would give “tips” on the range or the course to other kids and even adults who were willing to listen. He enjoyed the camaraderie of others wherever he went and was proud of all his friends and the opportunity to play with them. He would light up when he spoke about who he played with every day.
Joe’s “passion” wasn’t all about physical or competitive accomplishments. Throughout his short life, he seemed to seek out and find people that needed some type of assistance whether it was in school, with behavior, in sports, or in reaching their goals. An elementary school teacher once said she was worried to see Joe becoming friendly with a notorious bully; thinking Joe would start getting in trouble. To her delight, Joe’s behavior didn’t change, and the other child became a “model student”. Joe was able to have a positive influence on him rather than the other way around. He reveled in the success of those around him.
The Joe Dumphy Memorial Endowed Scholarship
The Joe Dumphy Memorial Endowed Scholarship is established in memory of Joe Dumphy and aims to help offset the costs of college education for a deserving college-bound student. Joe had dreamed of playing golf in college (at TCU); however, those dreams tragically ended with a car accident when leaving the golf course with his grandparents and a subsequent 29-day stay in the neuro-trauma ICU before his passing on July 26, 2015.
In Joe’s short life, he exemplified the “right way” to live one’s life whether it was through his Christian spirituality; the dedication he showed in sports and school; the respect he showed for his elders, fellow competitors, and the game itself; his leadership by example in the way he carried himself in day-to-day life and interactions with others; or just the enjoyment he brought to others regardless of the circumstances. The scholarship is another way that Joe will forever be remembered and to give back to someone from the community.