The Tanber-Blair Golf Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is teaming up with the Unity Foundation of La Porte County.
Tanber-Blair was created in 2001 to honor Larry Tanber and the late Bob Blair by a group of avid golfers. Over the years successful golf events were held, raising funds annually for college scholarships to high school golfers. Proceeds were transferred to the Unity Foundation recently and recognized during a small gathering at the home of Larry and Gwen Tanber.
The Unity Foundation will take over managing the investments and accounting as well as overseeing the scholarship selection process. Tanber-Blair Scholarship Foundation president, Robert Dabagia said, "Transferring the scholarship to the Unity Foundation is a relief for us, knowing it will continue beyond our lifetimes. We think it's important for our community to honor Larry and Bob and all the lives they've influenced through the game of golf. We chose Unity because we share common goals."
The Tanber-Blair Scholarship Fund will continue to honor the contributions by Tanber and Blair made to help young people learn the life lessons that golf teaches; sportsmanship, honesty, integrity, patience, goal setting, perserverance and self-discipline.
Larry Tanber is an outstanding amateur golfer who spent most of his life promoting and playing golf with many of the great names in amateur and professional ranks. He also introduced and mentored many young people in the game, several of whom were or are active in the PGA.
Tanber grew up in Michigan City and, except for his military service, has lived here his entire life. He is a golfing legend in La Porte County, having won 16 County championships and 14 Michigan City championships, as well as the Indiana Amateur championship in 1965.
From his service in World War II, when he served with Patton’s army in the Battle of Bastogne and earned the Silver Star, to his assistance conducting workshops with his life-long friend and Master PGA member George Thomas, Tanber consistently exemplified the character, integrity and dedication to and love of golf that is obvious to his many friends and acquaintances.
Bob Blair’s love of golf and dedication to young people is legendary. On September 16th, 2001, Bob lost his battle with cancer. Prior to that time, hundreds got to know Blair around the golf course, and thousands of young people were helped and positively influenced through his role as Sheriff and as a child abuse investigator,
Blair instituted anti-drug and gang education in our schools. One of his last requests was for the continued support of the newly created scholarship fund.
Bob Blair’s son, Mat, coaches women’s golf at Valparaiso University and has supported the Tanber-Blair Scholarship Fund since its inception.
High school seniors graduating from a La Porte County school who played on a high school golf team for all four years are eligible to apply. Applications will be available online by mid-December at www.uflc.net. Donations to the fund may be tax-deductible and can be made online on Unity’s web site, or by sending a check to P.O. Box 527, Michigan City, IN 46361.