We are sad to relay the news on the passing of Douglas LaRue Smith, one of
our original charter members and greatest supporters. Doug passed away at
the age of 89 on June 16 after complications from hip replacement surgery.
Doug was a great inspiration and help in organizing the Tillinghast
Association. He and his wife Annice were regular fixtures at our first
annual meetings at Shawnee on the Delaware, where they filled our evenings
with wonderful stories. A Memorial Service is scheduled for July 8, 2007 at
Winged Foot. For those interested in details please e-mail Rick Wolffe at
rwolffe@bellatlantic.net or Neil Regan at wflatc1@optonline.net

Doug will be missed. The following obituary appeared in the White Plains
Journal News.

Longtime Winged Foot historian dies at 89
By SAM WEINMAN
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: June 18, 2007)

A year after adding another colorful chapter with the hosting of the 2006
U.S. Open, Winged Foot Golf Club has lost one of its most invaluable and
dedicated members.

Douglas LaRue Smith, the club's official historian who was tireless in his
efforts to chronicle and share Winged Foot's rich history, died on Saturday
night after complications from a hip replacement surgery this spring. The
Rye Brook resident was 89.

A Minnesota native and a decorated World War II veteran - he won both the
Purple Heart and a Bronze Star - Smith had been a member of the Mamaroneck
club since 1965 and soon became fascinated with the club's unique past. He
had written two editions of the club's official history, "Winged Foot
Story," and after last year's Open, the club's fifth, had been in the
planning stages of a third.

From his office in the attic of Winged Foot's clubhouse, where he kept
countless artifacts and writings pertaining to the club, Smith also penned a
regular newsletter called "Foot Notes" as part of his exhaustive archiving
efforts, and was instrumental in the club acquiring replicas of the major
championship trophies awarded to winners at Winged Foot.

"He brought to life what had been in a sense sitting in an attic for many
years," said Winged Foot general manager Colin Burns. "He brought an energy
and an interest to it. He was the driving force behind us creating a
history."

Although he made his living in advertising, Smith may have been even busier
in retirement. Not only was he not paid for his work at Winged Foot, many of
his expenses came out of his own pocket.

"I think as a result of his whole life experience and his World War II
combat experience, I think that gave Doug a sense of place and a sense of
history," said Peter Sweetser, a friend and the chairman of Winged Foot's
Library, Art and Trophy Committee. "Doug felt passionate about the history
of Winged Foot and the history of golf in general. It was something worth
chronicling. It wasn't a passing thing. It wasn't a trivial thing. It was
something deep and meaningful. To people like Doug, it was a way of life."

That was evident even in his final days, when from his room at the Veterans
Administration Hospital in the Bronx, Smith kept tabs on this year's U.S.
Open.

"I think he even saw how fast the greens were at Oakmont," said Smith's
wife, Annice.

In addition to his wife, Smith leaves a son, Greg, a daughter Pam Graham,
and a grandson Eric Graham.

The family is planning on holding a memorial service at Winged Foot.

"It was a big part of his life," Annice Smith said. "He loved Winged Foot,
and he loved the history of i