A Tribute to Fred Millsaps – Volunteer Extraordinaire

By Craig Barnes

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

After 20 years of executive volunteer service to The Honda Classic, Fred Millsaps, who is retiring, wants to be remembered "as just one of a great winning team."

Millspas has been one of the team, but he also was one of those instrumental in building and helping perpetuate the team.

"Fred has been the godfather of the tournament," Tournament Manager John Montgomery said. "He has been its community conscience."

"This tournament, like any other, depends on volunteers and support from the community. It set the trend in volunteer service and community support in South Florida, and people like Fred were in the forefront. He helped us build an unmatched volunteer force in 1971."

While the pieces to the puzzle have changed, Millsaps has helped mesh the different personalities together for two decades.

"Fred is the tournament historian," said Cy Case, Chairman of the Foundation. "He has always been available to help us find what we needed to move forward."

"When you’re dealing with diverse personalities and touchy subjects, you need a master of diplomacy and an excellent negotiator. Fred Millsaps is both."

"He makes individuals see that the good of the tournament is far more important than their opinions, desires and ideas."

Millsaps was the community liaison to the late Jackie Gleason when the tournament carried his name. There were disputes between Gleason and PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman and between Gleason and the media.

"Jackie and I believe Fred Millsaps was a marvelous, community-spirited individual," Marilyn Gleason said. "He was an excellent liaison for Jackie in several situations relating to the tournament."

"He and Jackie wanted to see Broward County, South Florida, and the charities receive as much benefit as possible. The mere fact he has maintained a position of importance with the tournament for 20 years speaks for itself. It would have never been as successful without the involvement of community leaders like him, and I know Jackie felt the same way.

Gleason’s name was removed from the tournament in 1981 when American Motors, a one-year sponsor, refused to pay the celebrity for use of his name.

"When no agreement could be reached, Jackie conveniently structured his schedule so he wouldn’t be in town the week of the 1981 tournament." Millsaps said, "He graciously made the transition easy."

Honda became the sponsor in 1982 and Eagle Trace became the site in 1984. "The tournament could not identify with a better sponsor than Honda," Millsaps said. "They inspire community support and then back it up."

Initially, Millsaps was on the Executive Committee. He served as the Tournament General Manager from 1975 through 1980, and Chairman of the Foundation from 1976 through 1979. He has been on the nominating committee for 10 years.

"You learn with Fred around, that if you don’t attend a meeting, it’s a good bet you’ll be appointed chairman of something," Case said. "He has handpicked a good many of the people he leaves behind."

The 61-year-old Millsaps considers the tournament, Holy Cross Hospital and Christ Methodist Church to be his leading philanthropic interests. He’s also product of the C&S; Bank Building in Fort Lauderdale. It was formerly the Landmark Bank Building, and the building was constructed while Millsaps was Chairman of the Board of Landmark.

As he leaves, Millsaps has only one wish.

"Is there any way to get my handicap up to 18?" asked Millsaps whose handicap fluctuates between 14 and 16.

"Those strokes are important."

Especially to someone who enjoys playing the game, and Millsaps does. His prime opposition is Tom O’Donnell, President and Publisher of the Sun-Sentinel, a member of the Executive Committee and one of Millsaps’ closets friends.

"Fred’s most effective club is his ball retriever." O’Donnell laughed. "I doubt if he’s ever bought a golfball. He’s the only guy I know who will sacrifice a $150 pair of golf shoes for a $1.25 ball with a slice in it." Their annual challenge is classic.

"Tom won this year in the best of three matches," Millsaps said, "but he had to be on steroids. He played that far over his head."

On a more serious note, O’Donnell said the tournament has been fortunate to have Millsaps as a guiding light for 20 years.

"He’s an extremely bright man with creative ideas and the ability to solve problems," O’Donnell said, "and I’m not sure he’s retiring. He’s been saying ‘this will be my last year’ for as long as I can remember. He comes back every year. The tournament means that much to him. It will be difficult for him to leave it behind."

Millsaps leaves with a sense of accomplishment. He considered the tournament to be Broward County’s first opportunity to obtain national recognition.

"That’s what made the first tournament so important," said Jack Gaines, who developed Inverrary with his partner, Burt Haft. "It put Broward County on the map and started the tournament toward becoming one of the fastest growing in America. People like Fred Millsaps were instrumental in making it happen."

Millsaps takes many memories with him. He played in the featured Pro-Celebrity group with President Gerald Ford in 1975, the first and only President to play in a golf tournament while in office.

"President Ford made me feel 20-feet tall," Millsaps recalled. "Jack Nicklaus had just driven one out of Broward County and President Ford turned to me and said, ‘Fred do you play in many of these.’ I said, ‘No, I’m scared to death.’ He put his hand on my shoulder and said we would work together. He wanted to hit last because he said, ‘the people will walk and talk as soon as I hit.’ I probably hit the best drive of my life."

Then, there are the friends made during two decades of service. One of Millsaps’ best has been Nicklaus, a three-time winner.

Nicklaus’ birdies on the final five holes to win the 1978 tournament is still among golf’s greatest finishes. Millsaps remembers 1979 when Nicklaus birdied the same final holes in the first round. "He walked off the green at number 18, laughed and said, ‘Who says lightning doesn’t strike twice?’ It was amazing," Millsaps said.

Nicklaus credits Millsaps with doing a lot to promote golf as a sport and a charity source. The tournament’s primary charities are the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Florida and the Boy Scouts.

"In helping establish the Foundation, Fred generated much revenue for several worthwhile projects," Nicklaus said. "At the same time, he spearheaded tournament golf in the area, much to the enjoyment of thousands of fans every year. Golf in South Florida owes much to Fred Millsaps."

Most important to Millsaps as he steps aside is the tournament itself.

"J.B. Fuqua deserves much credit. His company left the tournament after 1976 but guaranteed its losses and agreed to match its profits through 1979," Millsaps said, "and it gave the Foundation a chance to put some money aside so it could fully support the tournament. The PGA TOUR wasn’t going to give a tournament to a community and group of volunteers with no money."

The tournament was one of the first to support itself through a foundation. It has had four sponsors, been played at three courses, had a celebrity format, a format where LPGA was included and a regular pro-am format and been on two television networks.

"It’s been the most diversified tournament in America," Montgomery said. "But Fred Millsaps has been one thing that hasn’t changed. We could count on him from the beginning, and we will be able to count on him in the future."

He takes with him a collection of 20 money clips, one from each of the tournaments pro-ams. Not many people have all 20. He plans to collect number 21, and he’ll be around if needed.

"The tournament, under the direction of Tom Lenz (Executive Director since 1987) and with a deep and talented volunteer force, will grow. "And there is potential to grow, especially in the area of charity contribution," Millsaps said. "If they need me in the future, I hope they will ask. If they don’t, I would be hurt. After all, I’m just retiring, I’m not leaving town." Reprinted From The 1991 Official Honda Classic Tournament Guide