Tournament raises scholarship money for children of slain FBI agents

The seventh annual John Bailey Memorial Golf Tournament took place Aug. 8-11 at various locations in Las Vegas to raise money for scholarships.

The three-day tournament, hosted by the Suncoast, is dedicated to the memory of Bailey, an FBI special agent who was killed in 1990 while attempting to prevent a bank robbery in Las Vegas.

During the past seven years, the golf tournament has evolved into a reunion of friends, family and law enforcement co-workers from Las Vegas, across the country and overseas.

The event has raised more than $175,000 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association College Education Fund, which provides financial assistance to children of agents killed in the line of duty.

In 18 years, the fund has offered more than $2 million in scholarships to more than 100 students throughout the United States. This year, 23 young adults will begin the 2007-08 college year entirely or largely with monies from this fund, attending such universities as Auburn, Harvard and Purdue.

Tournament players and their spouses/guests were welcomed with a reception the evening of Aug. 8 at the Suncoast, followed by three days of golf at Painted Desert, Siena and Silverstone golf clubs. About 450 golfers and guests from more than 35 states, the District of Columbia and from Scotland Yard in London attended.

The tournament concluded with an awards dinner in the Suncoast Ballroom on Aug. 11.

The team winners were Jose Troncoso, Curtis Anderson and Earl Greene of Las Vegas and Rich Benson of Phoenix. Troncoso also was the individual winner.

A highlight of the awards dinner was an appearance by impressionist Tom Stevens, who joins Rita Rudner and Rich Little among the entertainers who have donated their talents for the John Bailey Tournament. Stevens was the entertainment last year and was brought back by popular demand.

The event was chaired by Richard Tomasso, chief of security for the Suncoast who formerly worked for the FBI. He was assisted by his wife, Phyllis; Scott Bakken and Scott Hunter of the local FBI office; attorney Stan Hunterton; and Fred Bragg, president of the FBI Agents Association and a special agent.

Among those participating in the evening's silent auction and enjoying the dinner were Steve Martinez, FBI special agent in charge in Las Vegas; Jerry Markling, chief of enforcement for the State Gaming Control Board; Clark County District Attorney David Roger; Deputy Chief Greg McCurdy of the Metropolitan Police Department; North Las Vegas Police Chief Mark Paresi; Keith Hunter and Gary Flood of Scotland Yard in London; and Joe Fuscaldo, senior vice president at Boyd Gaming and chief operating officer of the Suncoast.

Also among the guests were Brian Cram, Bobby Siller, Robert Gebhardt, Steven Myhre, Ellen Knowlton, Dave Knowlton, Bruce Gebhardt, Grant Ashley and Wayne Boich.