Page 82 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2018

SPORTS & OUTDOORS coast golf update
Golf Tournament Trophy Named for Coast Visionary
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Rapiscan Systems Classic
Retired Army Ranger Dana Bowman parachutes onto the 18th fairway to make the tournament trophy presentation at the Rapiscan Systems Classic.
oncluding this year’s Rapiscan Systems Classic, the newly named Anthony J. Topazi Trophy was presented by parachuter Dana Bowman to tournament winner Steve Stricker during the awards ceremony. The tournament trophy has been officially
named the Anthony J. Topazi Trophy to honor Topazi’s visionary work and perseverance for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Bowman landed in the 18th fairway and was driven up to the 18th green where he was introduced by Rapiscan System’s Ajay Mehra to make the presentation.
The tournament Foundation Board of Directors officially named the champion’s trophy to honor the man who was instrumental in the tournament’s establishment on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
After Hurricane Katrina, Topazi, who was CEO of Mississippi Power, set an aggressive goal to restore power to the Coast in just 12 days, which was accomplished with steadfast determination.
When Habitat for Humanity was looking to grow their local golf tournament, Topazi immediately saw another opportunity for the Coast. He gathered a group of Coast community leaders and shared his vision of holding a
PGA TOUR Champions event here. Five months later, the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic debuted at Fallen Oak. Now the Rapiscan Systems Classic, it continues to be the same great tournament Topazi envisioned.
Bowman is a retired Sergeant First Class with the U.S. Army, and a double amputee. He was a Special Forces Soldier and a member of the elite parachute team, the Golden Knights. He lost his legs in an accident during the annual Golden Knights training in 1994. Bowman retired from the U.S. Army in 1996.
TOURNAMENT WINNER Steve Stricker, right, receives the newly named Anthony J. Tropazi Trophy from retired Army Sergeant Dana Bowman.
82 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2018
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