The first Eisenhower International Golf Classic (Eisenhower Classic) took place in 1987 at Hollytree Country Club in Tyler, Texas.  The tournament was named in honor of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, an avid golfer and founder of Sister Cities International. Formal planning for the 1987 tournament began in 1984. The tournament was established as a partnership between the University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) and Sister Cities International. Additional support came from the PGA Tour, local Tyler businesses, and the UT Tyler Patriots, an honorary organization founded in 1984 which helped coordinate the Million Dollar Hole-in-One contest.     The Eisenhower Classic served as a showcase for Tyler’s Sister Cities membership, with proceeds benefiting the Eisenhower International Scholarship Fund. Scholarship proceeds from the inaugural tournament benefited ten international students from five countries (Liberia, Kenya, Mali, Japan, and Mexico), who were invited to study at post-secondary institutions in U.S. Sister Cities (including Tyler, Texas).  Tyler joined the Sister Cities Program in 1982, forming mutual ties with Metz, France (1982-1990).Additional partnerships were subsequently established with Yachiyo City, Japan (1992-present); Jelenia Gora, Poland (1993-present); and Lo Barnechea, Chile (2001-present).     Dr. George F. Hamm, second president of UT Tyler and chairman of the International Executive Board of Sister Cities International, served as tournament chairman (1987). The inaugural tournament was co-hosted by David and Julie Eisenhower in conjunction with PGA tour representative David Graham, a professional golfer from Australia.  32 professional golfers from PGA Tour roster joined the 1987 Eisenhower International Golf Classic. The first Eisenhower Classic also included an auction, the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, and series of luncheons.     Texas artist and UT Tyler professor emeritus Ancel Nunn created the cover art for the1988 program. The piece, titled “Pars Pro Toto (A Part for the Whole)” was sold as a limited edition lithograph benefiting the UT Tyler Alumni Association. The 1988 Eisenhower Classic featured several luncheons, a special breakfast, a Texas Barbeque fundraiser, a youth putting contest, and the Million Dollar Hole-in-One contest in addition to the professional tournament.     In 1989, the Golf Classic added a Young Artists Competition to showcase the artwork of high school students in the U.S. and abroad. Winning entries from the Eisenhower Classic exhibition were later featured at the 1989 Sister Cities International Conference in Portland, Oregon.  Special events in 1989 included the Million Dollar Hole-In-One, several luncheons, the Texas Barbecue and Auction, a Ladies Celebrity Luncheon, the first Eisenhower 5k Run, the Five Star Classic, and a youth putting contest.     In 1990, the Eisenhower Classic moved from Hollytree Country Club to Willowbrook Country Club in Tyler, Texas, which hosted the tournament from 1990 through 1999. Students from 16 nations received scholarships in 1990 through the Eisenhower International Scholarship Fund.  The second annual Young Artists Program featured seventy-one works from 15 nations (including West Germany and the Soviet Union). The 1990 Classic welcomed dignitaries from Austria, Argentina, Australia, Hungary, Japan, Korea, the United States, and Mexico.  Additional events included the Five Star Classic, a 5k run, a Texas barbecue and auction, the Million Dollar Hole-In-One, and several luncheons and breakfasts. The 1990 Classic inaugurated the Eisenhower Ambassadors, an auxiliary women’s organization which coordinated hospitality events throughout the tournament. David Graham, PGA tour representative, served his final year as honorary co-chairman.     Members of the LPGA Tour were featured at the Eisenhower Classic for the first time in 1991. Professional golfers Jan Stephenson and Cindy Rarick were the first female golfers featured at the Eisenhower Classic. In 1991, twenty-one gentlemen formed the Eisenhower Classic Society, a partnership between “civic, business, professional and philanthropic leaders” to maintain the Eisenhower International Golf Classic and its traditions. Special events included the Five Star Classic, the Eisenhower Run, the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, a youth putting contest, and the Texas “Shootout” Barbecue. The Eisenhower Ambassadors coordinated special luncheons and a charity auction.     In 1992, the Eisenhower Classic featured professional guests from both the PGA and LPGA tours.  The Eisenhower Classic featured the official Sister Cities Twinning ceremony linking Tyler and Yachiyo City, Japan. The twinning ceremony coincided with an International Trade Conference and a luncheon honoring the Yachiyo City delegation. Additional events included the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, the Young Artist Competition, a youth putting contest, and the Eisenhower Run. The Eisenhower Ambassadors coordinated several luncheons, the Texas “Shoot-Out” Barbecue, a charity raffle, and an auction in addition to managing hospitality throughout the tournament.     The 1993 Classic featured football players Troy Aikman and Bill Bates, in addition to golfers from the PGA, LPGA, and Senior PGA tours. Special events included the Texas “Shoot-Out” Barbecue, the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, the Eisenhower Run, a Calcutta golf tournament, the Five Star Classic, and a youth putting contest. The 1993 Classic also featured the first Eisenhower High School Scholars Program, an initiative to recognize outstanding high school students in the 14 counties surrounding UT Tyler. The Eisenhower Ambassadors coordinated the tournament hospitality programs, including special luncheons, a raffle, the Texas “Shootout” Barbecue, and the live auction.     The 1994 Classic featured the 5 Star Classic tournament, a Calcutta tournament,  a youth putting contest, the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, the 5k run, the Young Artists Competition, and the Eisenhower Classic High School Scholars Program (which included 3000 students from 40 school districts). The Eisenhower Ambassadors coordinated special luncheons, a raffle, the Texas “Shootout” Barbecue, and a live auction.     The 1995 Classic included a Young Artists Competition, the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, the 5 Star Classic, the 5k run, the Eisenhower Classic Scholars program, and the Texas “Shoot-Out” Barbecue featuring the Dixie Chicks. The Eisenhower Ambassadors coordinated tournament social events including raffles, silent auctions, luncheons, and special breakfasts.     The 1996 Classic featured PGA champion Payne Stewart and stars from the PGA, LPGA, and Senior PGA tours. Special events included the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, the Young Artists Program, the Eisenhower Classic Scholars program, the 5k run, a football clinic, and the 5 Star Classic. The Eisenhower Ambassadors coordinated live and silent auctions, a charity raffle, the Texas Barbecue, and several luncheons.     In 1997, special events included the 5 Star Classic, the Million Dollar Hole-In-One, the Young Artists Program, the Eisenhower Classic Scholars program, a football clinic, and the 5k run. The Eisenhower Ambassadors hosted several luncheons, the Texas “Shootout” Barbecue and auction, a raffle, and a silent auction.     The 1998 Classic featured the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, a youth putting contest, the Young Artists Competition, the Eisenhower Classic Scholars Program, and . The Eisenhower Ambassadors hosted the Texas “Shootout” Barbecue and Auction, in addition to various luncheons, raffles, and hospitality events. The Eisenhower Classic “Red Pants” organization coordinated the Pairings Party, where amateur golf teams were assigned professional golfers through a random drawing. David Eisenhower served his final year as honorary co-chair.     In 1998, Dr. George Hamm retired as president of UT Tyler. His successor, Dr. Rodney H. Mabry, joined the tournament as co-chairman for the 1999 Tournament. The 1999 Classic featured the Young Artists Competition, the Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest, a traveling golf exhibit from Buick, the Eisenhower Classic Scholars Program, and a youth putting contest. The Eisenhower Ambassadors hosted the Texas “Shootout” Barbecue and Auction, a raffle, and various hospitality events throughout the tournament. The “Red Pants” organization coordinated the Pairings Party. The 1999 Eisenhower Classic was the last official Eisenhower tournament. Presently, the UT Tyler Patriots host an annual Million Dollar Hole-In-One contest to benefit local scholarship endowments and the Tyler Sister Cities organization continues to maintain business opportunities and educational ties through Sister Cities International. Note written by Samantha Winn.