News Releases

November 14, 2002
Hospice golf event honors Callaway, Easley

The Hospice LaGrange Golf Event, now in its seventh year, has been renamed in memory of LaGrange’s native son, Ely Callaway, who died on July 5, 2001. Mr. Callaway was instrumental in the creation of Hospice LaGrange and the golf tournament which raises funds for the local hospice house. The new name given to the tournament is the Ely Callaway Annual Golf Event. In addition, this year’s tournament is dedicated to the memory of Curran Easley, M.D.

“This is one of the premier golf events in the region,” says George Kish, golf event committee member and West Georgia Health System vice president. “The tournament thrives with generous sponsorships for teams, and a PGA tour or club professional plays with each team. We are especially appreciative for the support of PGA Senior Tour member Allen Doyle, who will be joining us again this year as a team pro.”

Kish says that over the years, the golf event has netted more than $400,000 for the Hospice LaGrange Charitable Trust.

“The trust was established to offset costs of hospice care that are not covered by insurance or other reimbursement sources for patients of West Georgia Hospice/Hospice LaGrange,” he says.

West Georgia Hospice, which began in 1982, is a program that offers palliative and supportive care to terminally ill persons and their families. The program’s main goal is to assist the patient in remaining at home with loved ones as long as possible. When this arrangement is no longer possible, Hospice LaGrange serves those patients and their families with compassion and understanding. The 16-bed hospice house provides inpatient, acute crises care and respite care for Hospice patients.

Dr. Easley, a native of LaGrange, died at Hospice LaGrange on January 1, 2001. The only pediatrician in LaGrange until 1969, he spent 42 years caring for local children. He was honored as one of the “Community Hero” Olympic torchbearers who carried the flame through Troup County in 1996.