A Salute to Bob Hope

Fans, Friends and Family gathered to pay tribute to Bob Hope

 

A video tribute, a performance by the Twentynine Palms U.S. Marine Corps Marching Band and a dramatic flyover by four U.S. Air Force A-10 jets were just a few of the highlights of the poignant, yet humorous, afternoon ceremony.

Mike Tirico, ABC Sports host announcer and master of ceremonies for the event, called Hope one of the "greatest Americans of all time." He said he couldn't imagine a more fitting place to celebrate him than a golf course.

 

Former presidents George Herbert Walker Bush and Bill Clinton sent warm messages of remembrance and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter honoring "the legacy of an exceptional man."

 

Former President Gerald Ford said he and his wife, Betty, shared tremendous times with the Hopes. “There was never a finer person, a better entertainer or a better friend than Bob Hope," President Ford said.

 

After what had been a somewhat gray and windy day, the sun made a brief and glorious appearance as Dolores Hope took the microphone. She thanked everyone for coming and observed, "I am sure Bob is having a discussion about the weather at this very moment."

 

Celebrities, Classic Directors and golf professionals joined the Marine band in a sing-along of “Thanks for the Memories”. Just as the music stopped, the A-10 jets came flying past the ceremony as silence overcame the crowd surrounding the green.

 

Thanks for the Memories, Bob!
Inspired by Christi Ennaco
Parody of "Thanks for the Memory"
From Bob Hope, Jan. 1999

Thanks for the memory
of forty years of fun
beneath the desert sun
in the Classic, that's a winner –
never less than number one,
I thank you so much.

Thanks for the memory
of a week of fun each year
that's brought me so much cheer;
exchanging jokes
with gallery folks
who come from far and near,
I thank you so much.

Many-a-star have we hosted
and many pros we have boasted.
my form and my scores
have been roasted.
We've withstood the test;
been entertained by the best.

So, thanks for the memory
of golf with Ink, Bing and Dino,
Ford, Palmer and Trevino;
a walrus, shark and golden bear
and the classic Ball extraodinaire,
and especially for you and me
what we've done for charity.
I thank you. So much.

 

Thanks for the Memories, Bob!
Another parody to "Thanks for the Memories"
by Christi Ennaco

 

Thanks for the memory
of the forty-three years of fame
since we asked to use your name
from the first day you swung
the Classic's been number one
among all the golf events
underneath the desert sun
we thank you so much

 

And thanks for the memory
of a week of fun each year
it's brought us so much cheer
when you golf with Hollywood pals
from the olden days to now
like Bing and Old Blue Eyes
and so many younger guys
we thank you so much

 

Thanks for the memory
of strolling fairways with a Jeanie
and a Wonder Woman, too
of teeing up with Presidents, Senators, Governors
and a Speaker of the House
plus an astronaut or two
we thank you so much

 

And thanks for the memory
you've putted around with
great coaches and athletes
of the sports you dared not to compete
from horse and car tracks to the ring,
the rink, the courts and all fields green
we thank you so much

 

Thanks for the memory
you've been out driven, God knows
by a menagerie of pros
like a walrus, a shark and a golden bear,
Big John and "The King"
who are known everywhere
we thank you so much

 

As for future memories
we look forward to the defending Champ
returning this year to play
with you watching on opening day
we thank you so much

 

The best of memories
is just one thing for us
over thirty-five mil. we've raised, thus far
for the Classic Desert Charities
we know when you yell "FORE"
we will be raising more, and more
For all of this, we thank you so much