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Sports

Remembering Richard 'Dick' Migli Through Golf

In memory of a 'true athlete,' the competition supports Avon athletics.

Avon native and athlete Richard "Dick" Migli never liked to lose.

“He had the competitive nature,” Paul Salvatore said, remembering his friend who died of Lou Gehrig's Disease in 1993.

But Tuesday's 18th annual Richard Migli Memorial Golf Tournament was not about winning.

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Salvatore, Migli's other friends and many locals gathered for friendly competition at the Golf Club of Avon in memory of their friend, as they have done every year since his death. The event also included contests, dinner and cocktails, and live music.

The event benefits the Avon Booster Club and the Dick Migli Scholarship Foundation, which awards college scholarships to two Avon High School athletes every year. Last year, the tournament raised $25,000, John Hagan, Avon High School booster club president, said. The booster club has raised about $80,000 for Avon High School athletics over the past two years, according to Hagan, funding the purchase of a defibrillator for the high school trainer and a new scoreboard.

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Even Dick Kelliher, Migli's high school baseball coach, was there. Kelliher knew him as a true athlete.

“He was one or two of the best players I've ever coached,” Kelliher said of Migli, who graduated from Avon High School in 1970 and played football, baseball and basketball there. “And I've been coaching for 40 years.”

Gordy Britt lived four houses down from Migli growing up and often played basketball in his friend's driveway until midnight, at which point, everyone would be exhausted and Migli declared the winner.

Salvatore, remembered Migli as an aggressive, determined and well liked athlete and friend. Migli's death still saddens his friends.

Salvatore said it was tough to see his friend so ill, but admired that Migli's tenacity remained constant throughout his battle with the disease.

“He still had the spirit in him,” Salvatore said. “He was stronger than us.”

Hagan was pleased with the turnout Tuesday afternoon and said the tournament has grown a lot.

“It started very small,” Hagan said. “They just played golf.”

The tournament ensures that Migli's memory lives in town history. 

“[Avon] is finally recognizing him as a fixture,” Kelliher said.

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