Benefactors

Berryhill golf tournament brings funds to prostate cancer endowment

A golf tournament held last October in honor of former state legislator Clare Berryhill has raised more than $23,000 for prostate cancer research at UC Davis.

The tournament, held in Stanislaus County, benefited an endowment named in honor of Clare Berryhill. The Reedley native was a member of the state Assembly from 1969-72 and the state Senate from 1972-76. In 1983, he was appointed to serve as the state's Director of Food and Agriculture by Gov. George Deukmejian. During his tenure he handled complicated agricultural issues ranging from the arrival of killer bees on California soil to restrictive foreign trade policies.

In 1995, Berryhill learned he had prostate cancer. A year later he died, leaving a wife, three daughters and two sons.

"My dad was from a generation of men who didn't have regular check-ups, so when he was diagnosed with cancer, it was already advanced," offered his son, Tom Berryhill, a rancher and member of the UC Davis Cancer Center Executive Board of Advisors. "Prostate cancer cost him about 15 years of life. Since then my family and I have seen many promising new therapies for prostate cancer where the biggest obstacle is lack of money.

"As a family, we decided this was an opportunity for us to make a difference."

Awards from the income of the Clare Berryhill Prostate Cancer Research Fund will be made annually to UC Davis researchers studying prostate cancer.

The second annual Clare Berryhill Invitational golf tournament will take place June 1. For ticket information call (209) 538-9093.

Contributions to the endowment may be mailed to UC Regents - The Berryhill Fund, UC Davis Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817.

Tom Berryhill's father died of prostate cancer. His family hopes a golf tournament founded in his honor will raise money for a cure.