30 Years of East High Golf Classic

The East High Golf Classic started in 1995. It was the brainstorm of then East Principal Jerry Stilwell. Jerry contacted 4 individuals including Ken Deever and present committee members Jack Hill and Paul Rogness to help form the event. Jerry said he just wanted to get some people together to have some fun playing golf and raise a few dollars for the school.

The event started at Grandview Golf Course in Des Moines with about 50 golfers. Lunch was served in a shelter by the Euclid Avenue Hy-Vee store, which has furnished lunch every year since. There were probably 15 sponsors. In 2000, we outgrew Grandview and moved to Copper Creek Golf Course in Pleasant Hill to accommodate the increase in golfers. This enabled us to expand to 3 shotgun starts over 2 days. We now have over 300 golfers and over 70 sponsors.

Although accurate records were not kept in 1995 and 1996, we are able to estimate of profit for the school in those years at $2,500. Today, the event has a net profit each year around $40,000. Over the 29 years we’ve been holding the event you have helped us raise more than $740,000 for East High School.

Where do the proceeds go? A special Funding Committee was formed several years ago. This committee oversees the requests for funding East High School. All requests are made to the committee and Principal and a decision and an amount are then determined. The Principal is required to make a report of the annual dispersion of funds at the annual Saturday East High Golf Classic banquet. Funds are used solely for East High student scholarships, equipment, uniforms and educational trips for students needing financial help.

The Annual East High Golf Classic banquet is held every Saturday of the event at Prairie Meadows, who has sponsored the banquet since 2000. The banquet features the Outstanding Citizen of the Year, financial reports and the highlight is the raffle which includes dozens of wonderful prizes donated by local companies and organizations.