The 7th annual Jack Lovejoy Memorial Golf Outing raised $11,860 for the Jack Lovejoy Memorial Scholarship

The seventh annual Jack Lovejoy Memorial Golf Outing was organized by members of the Rockton Lions Club who welcomed 83 players - 33 members of the Lovejoy family - on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Macktown Golf Course.

Jack Lovejoy was an active lifetime member of the Rockton Lions Club, where he served as the President and in other leadership roles over his Lions career. He worked on numerous committees, including the Christmas Walk Pancake Breakfast.

Every year, Jack Lovejoy donated to the Wimpy's Fund Auction only to turn around and bid on those items.

Lovejoy showed further support at the Old Settlers Day - OSD festival, where he was one of the event sponsors who lent a hand wherever it was needed.

His hard work and continued dedication earned him the Melvin Jones Award - the highest honor that any Lion can receive. As a Lion, Lovejoy generously gave back in many ways; he often bought dinner for everyone after a meeting.

Lovejoy was a 1970 Hononegah High School graduate. He was a strong supporter of Hononegah's HOPE Foundation, serving on the original Board of Directors with the Foundation's founder, Ralph Marshall, with whom Lovejoy went to school.
Lovejoy was the owner of Jacks Tire Sales and Service in South Beloit and a strong supporter of all local businesses.

The Rockton Lions Club started the golf play day in 2017. In the second year, Jack Lovejoy passed away on May 7, 2018 and the golf play was renamed in his memory in 2018.

Each year, high school students from Hononegah and South Beloit are awarded the Jack Lovejoy Memorial Scholarship, with funds raised through the golf outing.

Scholarships are given through a partnership between the Rockton Lions Club and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois who reads and reviews applications and helps with the decision of which student is to become the scholarship winner. Preference may be given to students planning to pursue a career in the following fields: automotive repair, transportation repair, aeronautics, or mechanical repair.

The 2025 Jack Lovejoy Memorial Outing raised a total of $11,860.

"It is always a great time golfing at one of my father's favorite golf courses," Chad Lovejoy said.

"We are truly honored to have the Lions Club put together a scholarship in his name. I also love that the scholarship is for non-traditional higher learning. The trades are what keep this country up and moving," stated Chad Lovejoy.

Rockton Lion Terrie Garlow said, "This year, one of the scholarship winners was a young lady with special needs who wants to go into the culinary field. Her mother stated it wouldn't have been possible without this scholarship."

Fourth-year Event Coordinator Jillian Porter said, "Last year's winner became a dieselmechanic. I believe in this event as I come from a long line of family who have worked in the trades, which don't get enough recognition."

Porter worked with a core committee that invested hundreds of hours in planning.
Porter was joined by Joe Dean, who co-chaired and covered all aspects of the event.

Andy Honkanp oversaw sponsorship. Arianne Honkamp worked at registration. Denise Darnell took care of licensing, insurance, and filled in wherever she was needed.

Stacy Dorfman organized an awesome silent auction! "The 18 baskets that Stacy assembled looked like art; most of the baskets were valued at around $200 or greater, varying in worth," Porter said.

Chris Robinson chaired the 50/50 raffle implemented by the Rockton Fire Protection District, dropping golf balls from a fire ladder truck, with a lucky winner taking home $400.

Amber Diamond secured the catering and live music. An estimated 200 people enjoyed lunch prepared by Fibs of Rockton.

"Albert did a fabulous job by providing excellent quality food at a great price," Porter said.

The sounds of the Courtney Davies Band provided the musical background.
Jeff Schreck took on the duties of beer and golf course customer service.

Staff at Rockton Fire and Rockton Public Works were given four free games. Unfortunately, the Rockton Police Department was unable to attend this year.

A.J. Maddrell and his group emerged as the top winning foursome. Awards were also given for the longest putt and longest drive for both men and women.

Special thanks are given to Balsley Printing, which printed all of the event materials.

Bryden Motors sponsored a hole-in-one contest. They offered a credit of $10,000 to be used toward the cost of a new car.

After the Vine brought the fun as guests guessed the number of wine corks and offered wine samples.

John and Sheryl Peterson of Peterson Co. Homes, Real Broker LLC, and Ron Montgomery were hole sponsors.

Each set up different games, one of which was Beer Pong. Refreshments included donuts or cider, or other fun activities. Each winner received a prize.

Hayes Distribution provided the beer and donated ZOA energy drinks.

Basset Certified bartenders in the pavilion were: Jack Deem, Sara Scott. Scott and Danielle Taylor. Taylor and Scott ran beer carts with Angi Schmoldt and Cindy Thompson.

In a silent auction, bidders took a chance on a three-day camper rental by Finnegan's RV, GreenFire certificates, Volcano Falls packages, fun at Coral Cove, Scentsy- Jackie Jacobson, beautiful jewelry from the Gem Shop, The Bubble Hive products, and an awesome offering from Rockton Sanctuary Spa. Many donations were given by members of the Rockton Lions Club.

Green sponsors who displayed yard signs were Randy and Nancy Fair, Gates Electrical, Edwards Apple Orchard, and La Croute Bakery Cafe.

Major sponsors included H.C. Anderson Roofing Company and Macktown Construction Group. QUAD Electrical Services, State Farm Cathy Bellich, Cellusuede Products, LDR, Compass Financing Group- Raymond James, HANCO, MPEC, C.E.S., Inc., Jacks Tire, Sales and Service, Gambino Realtors, United Van Lines, Baney Construction and Restoration, NAPA, and Christofferson Moving and Storage.

Another way to show support of the Jack Lovejoy Scholarship is to make a purchase from the merch store created by Embroid This who implemented ideas proposed by Rockton Lions.

Twenty percent of net sales is given back in support of future scholarships.
Plans are underway for the 2026 Jack Lovejoy Memorial Golf Outing, which will be held on Sept. 12th, 2026, with even more fun and exciting ideas.

"This is always a great event to honor a great man," Lion and friend Jeff Schreck said.

Lion Kerri Wallace said, "I love that we have a legacy for such a giving man. Most people will never know how often he contributed to local individuals and events."