The Rotary Club of Fulton plans to honor one of its long-time members with a golf tournament in his honor April 14 at Tanglewood Golf Course. Charlie James, a former outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, has been a member of Fulton Rotary for more than 50 years and is a two-time past president. He’s also an avid golfer.

“Charlie is one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet and he’s done so much for the Fulton community. Since this year is the 61st anniversary of when he played in the World Series, we thought it was appropriate to name our golf tournament for him,” Jacque Cowherd, Fulton Rotary president, said.

Proceeds from the tournament will go to local charities supported by the Rotary Club of Fulton.

“To have my name associated with the yearly alumni weekend golf tournament is truly an honor,” said James.

The golf tournament will be a four-man scramble, with a 28-team maximum. The $100 per person cost will include greens fees, cart rental and lunch. Registration will be at 8:30 a.m., with the tournament starting at 10:00 a.m..

Sponsors are being sought and include Home Run Hero for $5,000, Grand Slam Partner for $2,500, Most Valuable Partner for $1,000 and Hole and Team Sponsor for $475. Other sponsorship opportunities include food sponsor, drink sponsor and hole sponsor.

A two-sport athlete at the University of Missouri, Charlie James signed for $15,000 with the Cardinals as an amateur in 1958 and made his big-league debut with St. Louis on Aug. 2, 1960. He played six seasons in the big leagues (1960-1965) and was a member of the Cardinals’ 1964 World Series team that beat the New York Yankees in seven games.

Overall, he played in 510 games and hit a career .255 with 172 RBI, 29 home runs, 56 doubles and nine triples. His final season was with the Cincinnati Reds. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

While with the Cardinals, James finished a bachelor’s degree and earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Washington University. Fulton became home for Charlie and his wife, Jo, in 1972 when he became president of Fulton-based Central Electric Company, a power equipment manufacturing company.

James has been active in numerous civic affairs, including the Fulton Board of Education, the Callaway Chamber of Commerce, and as honorary chair of the United Way campaign with his wife. He has been a member of the WWU Board of Trustees since 1990.

Jose Oquendo Bobblehead