Drew Pearson~and how you can help

Posted by Tammy on Dec 31, 2008 in SW Florida news | 6 comments

I saw the news of an accident on I-75 Monday morning, and thought, what a terrible thing, right after Christmas. Today, I learned that there is a bit of a personal connection. The man who died in this accident was Drew Pearson, who worked at Bobcat Trail Golf Course and helped us with setting up the DALF golf tournament. And even worse, he was returning home from the hospital, his wife had just given birth to their first child, a baby girl. I simply cannot imagine what his wife is going through right now. At a time that should be the happiest of her life, she’s lost her husband, the father of her new baby. Please say a prayer for Emily, and for baby Peyton McKenzie.

If you’d like to help the family, a trust fund has been established, and donations can be made at any Fifth Third Bank. If I see a way to contribute in areas who do not have this bank, I will be sure to update my post.

Story from Charlotte Sun below.

Golfer was loved by many
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor

NORTH PORT — After working 80 hours per week, teaching golf twice a week in Fort Myers, doing research for completing his master’s degree and not taking a day off as the general manager of Bobcat Trail for more than two years, Drew Pearson had a great reason to take a break and relax on Sunday.

His wife, Emily, was having a C-section to deliver their first child at Cape Coral Hospital.

But just hours after Pearson sent photos via cell phone to friends and family of his 5-pound, 8-ounce baby girl, Peyton McKenzie, the 27-year-old was killed Monday morning when his 2003 Buick SUV collided with a dump truck hauling sand on Interstate 75.

Pearson had been returning to his Port Charlotte home from the hospital around 10 a.m. The wreck occurred just a few miles from their house.

By 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, calls flooded the local WCCF 1580 AM radio show, where Pearson’s longtime friend, Rich Glenke, known as Mr. Baseball, remembered him as a “down-to-earth, smart guy who was an excellent golfer with a heart of gold.”

Some tried to play golf at Bobcat Trail Golf Club in North Port on Tuesday morning in between hugging, crying and talking about the man who most believe was the “heart and soul” of the 500-plus-resident community off Toledo Blade Boulevard.

“(Drew) was Roger (Delagrange’s) protegee,” Glenke said of Pearson coming to work for Delagrange as the general manager of Bobcat Trail when he was 23 years old, eventually turning the golf course into one that Golf Digest ranked 4.5 out of 5 stars. “Through Drew’s dedication, he made Bobcat Trail one of the best golf courses in Southwest Florida.”

Delagrange teared up as he spoke about the man who worked with him not just at Bobcat Trail, but back in Indiana this summer. Delagrange said he knew how talented, mature and responsible Pearson was at age 16 when he worked for him at his Indiana golf course as a cart boy.

“Drew was so unique,” he said. “When he came here for me he was 23 years old going on 38. He just had a passion for people.

“I had long-term plans for Drew. I wanted him to be the trustee, a part owner in this operation. He was like a son to me. My own two sons called him from Indiana every day.”

Delagrange called Pearson “irreplaceable” because he loved his wife, his work and his extended family of 300-plus members at Bobcat Trail. He recalled the many times Pearson helped fellow employees move, allowed employees to live with him when were having hard times, helped out in the kitchen of the restaurant, worked shifts in the pro shop and made time to give golf clinics and lessons.

“Drew didn’t know how to say no,” said Steve Rodriguez, golf course superintendent, who worked for Pearson for just six weeks. “I’ve been in this business for 15 years, and I don’t have one nice thing to say about other general managers. Drew was a truly unique individual. There wasn’t a job he would ask you to do that he would not do himself.”

Before his death, Pearson’s mother, Linda, flew in from Indiana to spend time with the couple and to “spoil the new grandbaby.” His father, a pastor in Indiana, and his brother, Kyle, were driving to Florida when they received the terrible news.

“His Christmas presents are still in the car,” Linda said. “Drew was a born-again Christian. He knew people were important to God, so they were important to him. That’s why he helped everyone.”

Linda and Jim Pearson spent time Tuesday at the hospital with their daughter-in-law and newborn granddaughter.

Linda said that Emily, who is younger than Drew, liked him even before she graduated from high school and he was in college. The pair began dating while attending Taylor University in Indiana. They were married by Pearson’s dad in May 2006.

“They loved each other so much,” Linda said.

Bobcat Trail residents and employees will walk nine holes today along the golf course in Pearson’s memory. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at South Biscayne Church in North Port.

E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com

Want to help?

Donations can be made to the Drew Pearson Memorial Fund at any Fifth Third Bank branch.