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Driving range to be named after teen
Published 2/9/2010 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
HOLCOMB — Anyone who knew Tanner Born understood he loved golf.
When Tanner died on Dec. 16, 2009, it took his good friend Keith Leonard, 19, a day to start brainstorming memorial prospects for Tanner.
At Monday's Holcomb USD 363 Board of Education meeting, the board approved a proposal to change the name of the Holcomb Driving Range to the Tanner Dean Born Memorial Driving Range. Born was a former member of the Holcomb High School golf team.
The change came after Leonard proposed it, and proposed a memorial wall be constructed in Tanner's honor.
Leonard suggested a brick structure for the memorial, with a brass plaque in the middle dedicating the memorial to Tanner.
Leonard said he got the idea from the Clutter Family Memorial. He said Bob Rupp, Holcomb, would help in planning the memorial since he helped plan the one to the Clutter Family.
The idea behind the memorial is to leave something permanent in memory of Tanner, Leonard said.
"He was such a good person. We don't want people to forget about him. He inspired so many," he said.
He said the driving range was a big part of Tanner's life.
"He would be the first one out at the driving range and the last one to leave," Leonard said.
Leonard said he didn't expect the board to reach a decision so quickly on changing the name of the driving range.
Tanner's mother, Janet Smaltz, Holcomb, and father, Todd Born, Lakin, also were present at the board meeting to hear the discussion on Tanner's memorial and to ask about setting up a scholarship fund in Tanner's name.
Since Tanner was involved in cross country, golf, bowling and band, his parents said they want the $5,569 in the fund to be divided equally among the cross country, golf, bowling and band programs and will be used at each coach’s or sponsor’s discretion.
The board approved the scholarship.
The board did not reach a decision Monday night on the brick memorial for Tanner. Superintendent Demitry Evancho said the district would need a policy for on site memorials, and said that the memorial should be constructed in the best manner that's easy to maintain.
Once Evancho and Leonard sit down to discuss the plans, Leonard will have more details to bring back to the board.
Evancho said he plans to appoint Rob McAllister, buildings and grounds supervisor, to oversee the memorial plans.
With the naming of the driving range and the acceptance of the scholarship funds, Smaltz said she was happy with the outcome of the board meeting.
"I wasn't expecting this tonight. I'm so happy. We all are," she said.
Smaltz said the cause of Tanner's death has yet to be determined. She said he had been ill, but seemed to be getting better before he died suddenly.
She said the community and school support in commemorating Tanner's life has been amazing.
Smaltz said at Friday's homecoming game against Wichita County, students donned red T-shirts in memory of Tanner.
"This town, this school has been phenomenal," she said.
Smaltz said she was grateful for all of Leonard's and others' work to have the driving range named after Tanner, and in exploring memorial possibilities.
"I'm just really proud of the kids," she said.
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