In a press release dated September 22, 2023, the NFDA’s Funeral Service Foundation “announced that it has received a $100,000 contribution from the Memorial Classic Golf Tournament”.

 

The press release went on to say, “The Memorial Classic was founded by (Johnson Consulting Group founder) Tom Johnson more than 40 years ago with the intent of bringing  friends in funeral service together for fellowship. With more than 136 participants every year, the tournament is a philanthropic force that gives back to the funeral service profession.”

 

Funeral Service Foundation Board Chair Mark Krause made these comments in the press release, “This generous gift and the continued legacy of giving from Memorial Classic, the Johnson family, and all who participate continues to open doors for so many who feel called to work in the funeral service profession. . . .These gifts that honor and memorialize some of the funeral profession’s greatest advocates ensures that their legacy lives on in the opportunities for compassion and care that this scholarship creates.”

 

Since 2010, the Memorial Classic Golf Tournament has contributed more than $744,000 to the Funeral Service Foundation and has created the Foundation’s permanently endowed Memorial Classic Scholarship.  Over 27 students at mortuary science accredited institutions have received scholarships courtesy of this funding.  These scholarships are funded through proceeds of the annual Memorial Classic Golf Tournament which is led by Tom and Jake Johnson of Johnson Consulting Group.

 

CEO of Johnson Consulting Group, Jake Johnson, had this to say about the program, “As  lifelong professionals we are excited to give back and help the funeral profession educate the next generation of leading minds.”

 

Funeral Director Daily take:  I was first invited to the Memorial Classic by Tom Johnson in 1991.  Over the next 32 years I have missed only a handful of the annual events.  For me over those 32 years I’ve had friendships created with some of the finest people you could think of. . . . people who are caring for families and moving the greater funeral service profession forward every day.

 

And, I greatly look forward to their company over three or four days every year.

 

Regrettably, many of those people whom I first became friends with in the early days of my tournament experiences have passed away.  Those people had become great friends and mentors to me and the wisdom learned from many of them continues to help me to this day.

 

Fortunately, the circle continues unbroken as each year some of the finest younger funeral professionals that I know replace those who no longer participate.  Every year when I attend the Memorial Classic I remember the wisdom, friendship, and kindness of those who have gone before me and I recognize the newer, younger talent of our profession that is working today to continue the great funeral service legacy of this profession.

 

A Final Note:  I’ve been really blessed to have worked in the funeral service profession and equally blessed more than I deserve in economic aspect of the business.  I can directly relate parts of the business success to listening to the wisdom and advice many gave to me and Tom Johnson is one of those people– and I appreciate that greatly.  And, I don’t think I’m the only one who will say that about the humble man from Batesville, Indiana.

 

As a young funeral director invited to the Memorial Classic I used the opportunity to mingle and learn from the professions best over the four days each year. . . .no where else did this small-town operator have the opportunity presented to him  to talk with the Presidents of Batesville or Aurora Casket on a one-on-one basis. . . or talk with the leaders of SCI. . . or some of the great suppliers or consultants in the business like Mike Dibease, Bill Cutter, Chip Ray, Glenn Gould, Bill Bischoff, and Mike Fleming. . .or the profession’s preneed executives, . . . or some of the great individual funeral home operators such as Joe Weatherford and John Smith, or the legendary consolidators like Bob Horn and Jim Price, or past NFDA Presidents like John Carmon, or simply discuss the profession with some of death care’s historic largest private funeral home owner families.

 

As a young funeral home owner, what I learned and osmosed from just being around these people played a great part in building a funeral business. . . .it is that sense of “being able to help” that is part of what drives me to mentor young people in our profession.

 

Like many others, The Memorial Classic is much more than a golf tournament to me. . . .I’ve become a sponsor and donor and hope that it continues so other young funeral directors may have the same opportunity that I once had.

 

So, thank you Tom Johnson for your vision and leadership of this event over the years.  It’s been greatly appreciated from this 14-handicapper from Minnesota . . .and especially appreciated from those mortuary science students who receive education assistance from the funds that are raised at each and every event.

 

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