POTTSBORO, Texas (KXII) – Friday, officers, deputies and sheriffs traded their boots and badges for golf clubs and tees at Pottsboro’s Tanglewood Resort.
10 years and more than $700,000 later, Texoma law enforcement, their families and friends, and multi-county leaders gathered for the annual Wheeler and Castellanos Back the Badge Memorial Golf Tournament.
Nearly 150 golfers competed in teams Friday, each paying at least $1,000 to enter. Every dollar goes directly to Texoma law enforcement families in need.
Sgt. Nick Spencer, of the Durant Police Department, and Officer Jorge Molina, of the Denison Police Department, represented their departments in the color guard, and they said the cause hits close to home.
“It’s a campaign that raises dollars for law enforcement’s families ,and law enforcement themselves in need,” Spencer said.
“If that involves me losing a couple balls in the woods, that’s fine,” said Molina. “I’ll be happy to help.”
Back the Badge Foundation President Zac Grantham said there’s no situation that is too big or too small.
“If there is an officer that has a medical diagnosis, their kid is in the ICU, house burns down, anything like that, we step up and we write them a check,” said Grantham.
The foundation also provides $10,000 to the families of fallen officers across Texoma.
“Anytime we need them, we call 911, and they rush to us,” said Grantham. “Having this foundation where we can run to them when they need us? This is what the foundation is all about.”
The tournament is named for the late Grayson County Sheriff’s Captain Rickey Wheeler and Sherman Police Officer Vincent Castellanos, both of whom were lost to cancer after decades of service. Wheeler’s parents said seeing the event grow has been overwhelming.
“We’re here to support it because of him,” his father said.
“It’s so rewarding to see this thing progress and help those ahead of Rickey,”
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