ELMSFORD, N.Y. (November 19, 2014) - The Metropolitan Golf Association is proud to present former MGA President Donald J.  Hendler with its 2014 Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his nearly three decades of service to golf in the Metropolitan Area.

The MGA Distinguished Service Award, created in 1973, is presented annually to a candidate who has contributed “distinguished service to golf and its related activities, consistent with the valued standards and honorable traditions of the game.” Some of its past winners include Joe Dey, Harry Cooper, David Fay, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Dave Anderson, Rees Jones, P.J. Boatwright, Charlie Robson, and most recently, longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz.

Don Hendler is a worthy addition to this distinguished list after devoting countless hours in volunteer service to the MGA, LIGA and Long Island Caddie Scholarship Funds, where his contributions, particularly in the areas of strategic planning, branding and fiscal responsibility have had a major impact on the growth and stability of these organizations in times of great change.

Hendler, a member at Meadow Brook Club, came to golf early, playing at Cold Spring CC where his parents were members. He began participating in junior tournaments before his teenage years. Although his high school had no golf team, his motivation to practice and his love for the game kept him on course to play in college, which he did when attending Franklin & Marshall College. There, he worked his way to the top spot and earned the captain title in his senior year, graduating in 1967.

Social responsibility was ingrained in him from an early age, and after graduation he joined the New York Air National Guard. “My parents instilled in me early on a responsibility to give something back: to country, community, club or whatever; there are no free rides. I have to say it was the best advice I ever got. The rewards of giving back have come back to me tenfold every time.”

After his service in the National Guard, he worked his way up in his father-in-law’s company, Leviton, where he became a “jack-of-all-trades,” gaining exposure to all areas of the company operations before becoming Vice President of Strategic Planning in 1994. Under his leadership, the company made significant progress in becoming one of North America’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of electronic wiring devices and expanded its operations globally.  He became President of the company in 2005 and holds that position today.

On top of all his business and family responsibilities, Hendler always found time to give back to the game. Through his relationship with the late George Sands and former MGA President John Baldwin, both Long Islanders, he began volunteering as a tournament official with the Long Island Golf Association in the early 1980’s. Shortly thereafter he was asked to join the LIGA Executive Committee and began his involvement with their Caddie Scholarship Fund, working tirelessly to rebuild its financial structure, develop new fundraising initiatives and expand its scholarship opportunities. The fund has since grown steadily from 1,500 to 2,500 participants and he now serves as the fund’s Vice President.

In 1991, the MGA invited Hendler to serve on the Tournament Committee. Within a year, he was asked to join the MGA Executive Committee and his expertise in all areas of business operations, as well as his intense understanding of the game from a both the player and administrative sides, made him an invaluable asset during period of great transition for the MGA that included the move to Golf Central, the celebration of the Association’s Centennial and the launch of the MGA Foundation’s Capital Campaign.

In 2005, Hendler became president of the MGA and under his leadership, began a process of developing long term strategic plans that would provide guidance and goals for the Association as it moved deeper into the 21^st century. His presidency was one of great activity and growth particularly in the area of the MGA Foundation, which saw the great expansion of The First Tee of Metropolitan New York and the GOLFWORKS student intern programs, both key Foundation initiatives that impact the lives of thousands of young people each year, and he moved the MGA’s Capital Campaign forward in its effort to reach its $5 million dollar goal. “We made great progress in establishing a better link with our clubs throughout the campaign, and created a better understanding that all of us have to contribute something back to the game to ensure its future,” Don noted.  

“What has always stood out about Don was not just what he did in service to the game,” notes MGA Executive Director Jay Mottola, “but the way he did it – always humble and ready to give back while expecting nothing in return.”

With the same humility, determination, and selflessness as when he was in office, Don has continued to give back to the game and remains one of the MGA’s most active, trusted and valued advisors, and is a most worthy recipient of the 2014 MGA Distinguished Service Award.

The award will be presented at the 117th MGA Annual Meeting and Dinner on Wednesday, December 3 at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y. For more information on the 2014 MGA Distinguished Service Award, please contact Helen Stock at hstock@mgagolf.org or (914) 909-1191.

 

 

 

 

MGA Distinguished Service Award

Past Recipients

2013	Jim Nantz			1992	Ira L. Mendell
2012	Emily “Missy” Crisp			1991	Ann Beard
2011	David C. Catalano			1990	Arthur “Red” Hoffman
2010	Paul R. Dillon			1989	John F. McGillicuddy
2009	David B. Fay			1988	Arthur E. Lynch
2008	Gene Westmoreland			1987	Dana Mozley
2007	Dave Anderson			1986	James R. Hand
2006	Joseph C. Cantwell			1985	George E. Sands
2005	J. Michael Carter			1984	Isaac B. Grainger
2004	John C. Baldwin			1983	P.J. Boatwright Jr.
2003	Charles Robson			1982	Dr. Richard Silver
2002	Lowell M. Schulman			1981	Robert Trent Jones Sr.
2001	Gerald T. Mahoney			1980	Harry Cooper
2000	Oliver & Eleanor Lazare			1979	Cynthia Alexander (Foshay)
1999	James Cotter			1978	Al Laney
1998	Rees Jones			1977	Fred Corcoran
1997	William & Lois McTurk			1976	William P. Turnesa
1996	C.A. “Tony” Wimpfheimer			1975	Jerry Courville Sr.
1995	Arthur Weber			1974	Joseph C. Dey
1994	Guido Cribari			1973	Clarence “Gus” Benedict
1993	Joseph A. Donahue