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Golfers celebrate Mickey Marvin Day

James Godley, whose alter ego is Destruction, a mega-fan of the Oakland Raiders, poses with Jonathan Marvin.

October 3, 2016, will henceforth be known as Mickey Marvin Day in Henderson County, thanks to an act of the county Board of Commissioners.

Commissioner Michael Edney read this proclamation as a part of the opening ceremonies during the first annual Mickey Marvin Fall Classic golf tournament at the Hendersonville Country Club. A face conspicuously absent from the crowd was the honoree. 

Marvin, who suffers from ALS, woke up this morning complaining of feeling pain and was taken to the hospital shortly before the opening ceremony. Marvin is a football star who played at West Henderson and Brevard high schools and the University of Tennessee and won two Super Bowl’s with the Oakland Raiders.

Marvin’s son, Jonathan read a letter that Marvin had written thanking everyone for their continued support of the scholarship fund and the tournament as well as thanking his former coaches and teachers. Marvin wrote in his letter that he is excited that “many generations of young men are going to benefit from the scholarship fund.” Four students, one from each high school in the county, will be awarded the scholarship, which will be based on need, athletic participation and a positive attitude for its recipients.

Also present at the opening ceremonies was James Godley whose alter ego is Destruction, a physical embodiment of the Oakland Raiders. Godley has been a fan of the Raiders since childhood and met Marvin over 20 years ago for the first time. Recently he coordinated, collected and delivered fan letters to Marvin in Hendersonville and speaks of Marvin’s great character.

Speaking to the Lightning about what the tournament and scholarship fund mean to his family, Jonathan said, “I think that giving back is the ultimate thing you can do. It excites dad that his legacy can live on in each of the high schools.”

Jonathan praised the success of the golf tournament and how much it has meant to his dad in particular to have so many people rally in support of the scholarship fund. The immense community support has been a blessing for his father to see because “he’s always given," Jonathan said. "Now people are giving back to him.”