Bob Krueger Named Recipient Of Honey Gantner Award

The NJSGA Annual Meeting is set for Wednesday October 15, at the Association’s headquarters at Galloping Golf Course.

The meeting, which takes place beginning at 10 a.m., includes the presentation of the annual Honey Gantner Award for the outstanding NJSGA volunteer to Bob Krueger of Rockaway River.

“Bob is a most deserving recipient of the Honey Gantner Award; he has been a dedicated representative of the NJSGA for nearly three decades. He has long been a face of our organization, having officiated at countless championships and qualifiers totaling thousands of hours of exemplary volunteer service,” said Mike McAneny, NJSGA Tournament Director.

“As all tournament players and committee members would attest, Bob's kind demeanor, knowledge and sense of humor make him a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf, and specifically golf in New Jersey. He perfectly embodies all of the qualities of this award.”

The Honey Gantner Award is the first such award in the history of the NJSGA to be named after an individual, the late Hoeny Gantner of North Jersey C.C. and is presented each year in her honor at the Annual Meeting.

Lunch follows presentation of the Honey Gantner Award at 11:30 and golf is available to participants at 12:30 p.m. The evening session begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and hors d'oeuvres and presentation of the three Player of the Year Awards, sponsored by Donnelly Construction. This year, besides the annual presentation of the Men’s Amateur Player of the Year Award, the Women’s Player of the Year and Senior Men’s Player of the Year have been added.

The NJSGA will also recognize all of the 2014 tournament champions and members of its invitational teams.

Krueger has been an NJSGA volunteer since 1984, following his retirement as a vice president of H.F. Butler Corporation, a steel fabrication company. He and his wife, the late Helen whom he married in 1957, raised their son, Robert Jr., in Randolph.

Krueger, who grew up in Union, is a former vice president at Rockaway River Country club, where he is currently serving on the centennial committee. He said former Rockaway River president and NJSGA tournament chairman Arthur Lynch.

“I’ve always loved the game of golf. Arthur grabbed hold of me and that was that. I always enjoyed being in Arthur’s company at the club and serving on the board with him. He’s the one who started taking me out to NJSGA tournaments,” Krueger remembered.

He said he takes particular pride in receiving the Honey Gantner Award, an award named after his late friend who received the first award in 2012. Vic Bacile of Spring Brook received the award in 2013.

“Whenever I arrived at a course, I would start my day with a kiss on the cheek from Honey. I'm honored to receive an award named after a good friend. The Honey Gantner Award is a testament to her spirt,” he said. “I’ve had a chance to see other golf associations at work and the NJSGA takes a back seat to no one. We have a great group of volunteers, both men and women.”

In 2013, Bob’s son and grandson, Bob Jr. and Bobby, won the NJSGA Father and Son Championship.

Two years ago, the NJSGA unveiled a new annual award dedicated to volunteers. The “Honey Gantner Award” each year will recognize a top NJSGA volunteer. It recognizes someone who typified what it means to give time year after year, day after day, for the love of golf.

“Honey was the consummate volunteer, the first to arrive and the last one to leave. She had an incredible amount of energy. But more than that, she was the nicest, most generous person you will ever run into,” said McAneny.

“She was the type of person, any golf or non-golf organization would want. A countless amount of people around New Jersey knew Honey from her volunteer work. She knew how to interact with players and everyone she met on the golf course.”