July 4, 2009 — David Charney first met Dan Rooney when they were paired up in a golf tournament. At the first tee, Charney hit what he thought was a pretty good shot. It was long and straight and bounced down the fairway rolling to a stop in a really nice position on the green.

Feeling a bit self-satisfied, he stepped aside and let Rooney take a shot.

Rooney’s stroke sent the ball far and deep, surpassing Charney’s effort. That day, the pair struck up the beginnings of a friendship. Charney learned Rooney was also a pilot.

Rooney has completed three tours of duty in Iraq, an F-16 pilot, he is a major in the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

A native of Stillwater, Rooney is a PGA golf professional, course owner, and philanthropist. He played college golf of the University of Kansas and played in professional mini-tours after graduating in 1996.

Rooney loves golf. But more than that, he is dedicated to serving his country and its fallen heroes.

Tuesday at Claremore Rotary Club, Rooney described the whisper that became a shout and changed his world forever.

An owner of a golf course in Michigan, Rooney boarded a commercial airline flight one day in 2006 and noticed a young man in uniform. When the flight ended, the pilot’s voice came over the intercom. He said there was a hero on board.

Rooney assumed the pilot was referring to the young soldier he had seen earlier.

He was wrong.

“We have the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board, “ said the pilot.

As it turned out, the young soldier Rooney had seen was the fallen man’s twin brother, Cpl. Brad Bucklin, who had accompanied his brother’s body home from Iraq.

The pilot asked people to remain seated as an honor to Bucklin and his sacrifice.

As Rooney watched from the plane window, a flag-draped casket was carried from the cargo-hold to the waiting family. Among those family members was a young boy clutching a woman’s leg. Rooney later confirmed the boy was the deceased soldier’s son.

Tears streamed down the faces of the Bucklin family, and Rooney filled with emotion. At that time Rooney had served two tours in Iraq as an F-16 fighter pilot. He had witnessed the harsh reality of the front lines, but had not been exposed to the devastation of loss felt by families back home.

Turning back to the plane, Rooney realized many of the passengers had refused to wait and had already de-boarded. He was saddened by the lack of respect shown for the fallen soldier and knew he wanted to do something.

Rooney came to believe the greatest honor he could give fallen soldiers would be to support those left behind. He wanted to make a difference in the lives of those families.

Rooney couldn’t change fate and bring a fallen soldier back to life, but he could change the future of a grieving widow or a fatherless child. 

The Folds of Honor Foundation was born out of his commitment to do just that.

Rooney believes education is key to a successful future and built the foundation on that premise. Folds of Honor offers scholarships to spouses and dependents left behind by America’s fallen heroes. Recipients are free to attend the university or institution of their choice.

The road to Folds of Honor was not short. Rooney started with a golf tournament to raise money to help those families who don’t qualify for educational assistance. Handing out the money he had raised, he felt such a sense of fulfillment, he knew the work must continue.

As a PGA golf pro, he had the idea to ask golf courses around America to offer people a chance to donate a dollar to the cause.

“The difference between idea and reality is action,” said Rooney. He started calling golf courses.

The first year, 3,300 golf courses participated, raising $1.1 million.

Since that time, the organization has given out over 600 scholarships.

“We’re changing the world through the game of golf,” said Rooney.

Each September, golf courses round the nation participate to raise money for the legacy scholarships.

In Rogers County, the legacy of sacrifice will be honored year round.

The Patriot, a state-of-the art golf course currently under construction in Stone Canyon development will donate a portion of membership fees to Folds of Honor. Rooney is a co-owner of the course.

“It’s an incredible venue,” he said. “It’s something that will be known on a national level.”

The Patriot was designed by renowned course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and will offer varied topography. ABC Contractors built a facility on the grounds for Folds of Honor.

Thirteen bells ring each day, representing each of the 13 folds of the American flag after it is taken from the casket of a fallen soldier.

“We will pause and remember the great sacrifices,” said Rooney.

Patriot Golf Day this year is Sept. 4-7 at golf courses round the nation.

For more information or to donate to the scholarship fund, see www.foldsofhonor.org.