Young golfer would have been proud

At age 15, John Mullen was diagnosed with bone cancer. It was inoperable, so John went to Children's Hospital in Denver for radiation and chemotherapy.

The treatments worked, containing the cancer and making it possible for John to return to McCook High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1981.

He tried college -- attending school in Hastings -- but soon decided to devote full-time to his dream of becoming a golf professional. Helped by his passion for the sport, he rose quickly through the ranks, serving at the Foothills Golf Course, the Denver Country Club and a course in Palm Springs, Cal. as a PGA Apprentice.

Then, suddenly and tragically, the cancer -- called Ewing sarcoma -- reappeared. This time treatments didn't help, and on Sept. 19, 1986, John Mullen passed away.

A young man, with so much promise, was taken from us prematurely.

Left to grieve, his mother and father, Bernie and Nona Mullen, began thinking of ways to memorialize their son. As a start, they hosted a family golfing get-together in the summer following John's death.

One thing led to another. It was actually the Heritage Hills golf pro at the time, Jack Todhunter, who came up with the idea. "Let's have a pro-am golf tournament," he told the board, "and let's do it as a memorial to John Mullen, with the proceeds going to benefit medical care."

As it happened, both Dr. Mullen and a physician, Dr. Emanuel Beyer, were on the golf board at the time. They immediately gave their support. As a result, on the first weekend in June in 1989, the John Mullen Health & Heritage Classic was born, with all profits dedicated to the Community Hospital Health Foundation.

This weekend, John's Mom and Dad -- Nona and Bernie Mullen -- will be returning from their home in Arkansas for the 15th annual pro-am. Once again it's a sell-out, with 36 amateur teams of 144 players joining 34 to 36 golf pros from Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and many parts of Nebraska.

The list of professionals was at capacity earlier in the week, but since then a past pro-am champion, Steve Gotsche of Great Bend, Kan., has advanced to the U.S. Open regional qualifying rounds, and Troy Martin of Omaha, has pulled out to caddy for Dave Stockton Sr., on the senior tour.

Still, a great field remains, including four other past pro-am champions -- Rennie Sasse, Shane Zywiec, Mike Schuchart and Tom Hearn. Adding to the event's luster, a former PGA tour player, Jim Jamieson, will be here this year. Long-time golf fans will remember Jamieson as the golfer who accompanied Arnold Palmer on his triumphant walk up the 18th hole at the Masters in 1969. Jamieson was invited by George and Peggy Pearson, McCookites who winter in Arizona, where they met Jamieson, who is now head instructor at the John Jacobs golf school.

So many memories ... and so many more to be created this weekend as the 15th John Mullen Health & Heritage Classic unfolds at McCook's award-winning golf course.

As a teenager, John Mullen saw the building and opening of Heritage Hills. "He would have been very proud," his Dad said. "He loved golf and he loved this course. The pro-am is a wonderful way for John to be remembered."