Ben Vernon (left) with current Davidson golf coach Tim Straub
Ben Vernon Honored with SoCon’s Distinguished Service Award
5/31/2011 3:07:30 PM | Men's Golf
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Former Davidson golf team captain Ben Vernon '50 was announced Tuesday as one of twelve recipients of the Southern Conference's 2011 Distinguished Service Award. He and the other winners will be recognized Wednesday at the Southern Conference Honors Dinner in Charleston, S.C.
The Distinguished Service Award program was started in 2002 as a way for the Southern Conference to recognize those individuals from its member institutions who have contributed to all aspects of the university. In addition to Vernon, this year's honorees include Mark Harrill (Appalachian State), Tomi Youngblood (College of Charleston), Jesse B. Jackson (The Citadel), Dr. and Mrs. W. Bryan Latham (Elon), Ray and Pat Ballew (Furman), Ted S. Smith (Georgia Southern), Lynne Agee (UNCG), Michael Rice (Samford), J. Lewis Card, Jr. (Chattanooga), Kevin and Lynn Stanberry (Western Carolina) and Harry Pinkney Williams, Jr. (Wofford).
A native of Winston-Salem, Vernon came to Davidson in 1946 and has enriched the life of Davidson College ever since. He made, and continues to make, his biggest mark on the golf course.
“Ben has been a tireless force behind our golf program and much of our success can be attributed to his efforts,” said Davidson Director of Athletics Jim Murphy.
Vernon was captain of Davidson's golf team and played a key role in the huge 1949 upset win over Wake Forest's powerful team, which was led by the legendary Arnold Palmer. He had a successful career in financial service, working as a stockbroker from 1955 until his retirement as vice president of Charlotte's Dean Witter Reynolds in 1991.
Vernon is a lifetime member of the Davidson College Board of Visitors and former member of the Davidson Athletic Foundation Board. He was instrumental in establishing the Tom Scott Memorial Golf Tournament and remains a member of its annual planning committee, as well as the golf endowment committee. In addition, he has served as president of the Charlotte alumni chapter, an officer of the Rocky Mount, N.C. alumni chapter, a member of the planning committees for his 40th and 45th reunions, chair of his 50th reunion and Annual Fund class agent. In 2000, Davidson recognized Ben's outstanding contributions by presenting him with the Alumni Service Award.
Presently, Vernon serves as senior trustee of the Apple Foundation, which supports non-profit organizations in North Carolina's Stokes and Rockingham counties. He has also served the Alexander Children's Center, Sharon Towers, The Pines at Davidson, Communities in Schools, Barium Springs Home for Children, the North Carolina Education Assistance Authority, the North Carolina Retirement System and the North Carolina Traders Association and the investment committee of the treasurer of the State of North Carolina. In 2010, Vernon received an award for the Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation in Stokes County for his work on behalf of the Apple Foundation.
Vernon has three children and he and his wife, Linda, live on the shores of Lake Norman in Denver, North Carolina.
The Distinguished Service Award program was started in 2002 as a way for the Southern Conference to recognize those individuals from its member institutions who have contributed to all aspects of the university. In addition to Vernon, this year's honorees include Mark Harrill (Appalachian State), Tomi Youngblood (College of Charleston), Jesse B. Jackson (The Citadel), Dr. and Mrs. W. Bryan Latham (Elon), Ray and Pat Ballew (Furman), Ted S. Smith (Georgia Southern), Lynne Agee (UNCG), Michael Rice (Samford), J. Lewis Card, Jr. (Chattanooga), Kevin and Lynn Stanberry (Western Carolina) and Harry Pinkney Williams, Jr. (Wofford).
A native of Winston-Salem, Vernon came to Davidson in 1946 and has enriched the life of Davidson College ever since. He made, and continues to make, his biggest mark on the golf course.
“Ben has been a tireless force behind our golf program and much of our success can be attributed to his efforts,” said Davidson Director of Athletics Jim Murphy.
Vernon was captain of Davidson's golf team and played a key role in the huge 1949 upset win over Wake Forest's powerful team, which was led by the legendary Arnold Palmer. He had a successful career in financial service, working as a stockbroker from 1955 until his retirement as vice president of Charlotte's Dean Witter Reynolds in 1991.
Vernon is a lifetime member of the Davidson College Board of Visitors and former member of the Davidson Athletic Foundation Board. He was instrumental in establishing the Tom Scott Memorial Golf Tournament and remains a member of its annual planning committee, as well as the golf endowment committee. In addition, he has served as president of the Charlotte alumni chapter, an officer of the Rocky Mount, N.C. alumni chapter, a member of the planning committees for his 40th and 45th reunions, chair of his 50th reunion and Annual Fund class agent. In 2000, Davidson recognized Ben's outstanding contributions by presenting him with the Alumni Service Award.
Presently, Vernon serves as senior trustee of the Apple Foundation, which supports non-profit organizations in North Carolina's Stokes and Rockingham counties. He has also served the Alexander Children's Center, Sharon Towers, The Pines at Davidson, Communities in Schools, Barium Springs Home for Children, the North Carolina Education Assistance Authority, the North Carolina Retirement System and the North Carolina Traders Association and the investment committee of the treasurer of the State of North Carolina. In 2010, Vernon received an award for the Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation in Stokes County for his work on behalf of the Apple Foundation.
Vernon has three children and he and his wife, Linda, live on the shores of Lake Norman in Denver, North Carolina.
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