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Eric ‘Doc” Iverson receives UGA Volunteer of the Year Award

The UGA, recognizing the importance of volunteers, has instituted a Volunteer of the Year Award, and the first recipient is Eric ‘Doc’ Iverson. Upon hearing news of the award he said, “I’ve been having a ball volunteering for the UGA. Do you get awards for that?”

And to that question UGA Executive Director Bill Walker said, “Yes, we rely on volunteers and you are an ideal example of volunteerism.”

Doc was born in Salt Lake City in 1955, but his family moved to California when he was two and he spent the next 50 years of his life in California on both sides of the education equation, learning and teaching. In 2009, one day after retiring as the principal at Del Mar High School he returned to Utah to be near his mother and sister in Orem.

Shortly after arriving in Utah he picked up Fairways Magazine and noticed that the UGA was seeking volunteers to help with the USGA National Public Links Championship at Soldier Hollow. He was there all day, every day.

“That was my first time as a golf volunteer and I had a wonderful experience. It made me happy, broadened by friendships, and I felt like I had contributed to the success of the event, that I was really needed,” he said. “I also realized that I was lacking in many ways and that I needed to improve my skills to become a better volunteer.”

With that he began a study of the rules and “although I’m not an expert, hopefully I have learned enough to stay out of trouble.”

In California he graduated from Del Mar High School and San Jose State where he majored in political science. After graduation he took a temporary job teaching math at his former high school and it turned into a full time position. He also taught physical education and special education and then moved into administration for 20 years, the last five years as the principal.

Golf was his leisure time activity in San Jose and he settled in at about an 11 handicap.

His love of the game comes from his mother, Bevelyn, who didn’t take up the golf until she was 65. For her the game is more social than competitive, but she has been interested in improving and has been to many clinics. At 86, she still plays the game quite regularly and walks most of the time.