Kevin Rafferty, volunteer chairman of this year's John Deere Classic, pauses for a photograph on the course. CREDIT TODD WELVAERT
In his profession as a funeral director, Kevin Rafferty is accustomed to being the one that families lean on and turn to for support during their trying times. But this week as Mr. Rafferty trades his standard undertaker attire – a suit and tie – for more appropriate wear – golf shirts and shorts – […]
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In his profession as a funeral director, Kevin Rafferty is accustomed to being the one that families lean on and turn to for support during their trying times. But this week as Mr. Rafferty trades his standard undertaker attire – a suit and tie – for more appropriate wear – golf shirts and shorts – he is the one counting on the support of his very extended John Deere Classic family to make sure things run smoothly for tournament week. In his ninth year on the JDC board, the Rafferty Funeral Home owner is taking his place as the 2024 volunteer chairman of the Quad Cities’ PGA Tour event in stride. He knows full well that he has the strength and dedication of the staff at JDC and TPC Deere Run and especially of the tournament’s 2,300+ volunteers.“Most volunteers have been here for multiple years and they know what to do, which makes all our jobs easier,” Mr. Rafferty told the QCBJ earlier this week. When first asked to join the executive board, he said “For me it was such an honor I didn’t hesitate to say ‘yes.’ When you’re asked to be on the executive board, you know someday you will be the chairman.” While at first glance, overseeing an army of volunteers at a professional golf tournament may not seem in his wheelhouse, Mr. Rafferty said “It (the funeral business) is all about service.” And as JDC chairman, “You’re still in a service-oriented role. You have to make sure you do your job and everyone else has their committees covered.”
Preparation is year-round
Working year-round in the planning and preparation, he said “we set our goals pretty high. We want it to be a comfortable experience for all the people who come on the course … the golfers, caddies, volunteers and spectators. We want to make sure they are all comfortable and enjoy the moment.”For the work areas where he might not excel, he said “I’ve always believed if you care and work hard, it covers a lot of things we might not be good at.”Mr. Rafferty also knows the countless hours of preparation that occur to transform TPC Deere Run into a small city for tournament week each July. “Everything is planned, everything is going smoothly, so we know what we need to do. Many times, you’re nervous going into it and you’re scrambling going into it. But this time, we had a calm (pre-tournament). We know about the concerts ahead of time and we’re ready.” He’s also extremely proud to be part of an organization that pumps nearly $71 million into the local economy “every year we hold this tournament supported by John Deere.” “This is the biggest event the Quad Cities has every week it is here,” he said during a short break inside the JDC Media Center at the Silvis course’s clubhouse. Beyond putting the Quad Cities on golf’s world stage, the annual JDC is key in its charitable support of nearly 500 regional charities, said Mr. Rafferty. Last year, the JDC Birdies for Charity raised a local record $14.1 million last year that was distributed to its participating charities.
Impact is mind boggling
“Those numbers are mind boggling,” he said of the projects, programs and improvements they have helped fund. “Where would we be as a community without it?”Since the tournament’s inception in 1971, $174 million has been raised for charity. “We wouldn’t have been able to do a lot of the things we do.” The fact that the JDC reigns as the No. 1 fundraiser per capita on the PGA Tour – and the No. 3 overall in charitable dollars raised – speaks volumes about the tournament, its title sponsor Deere & Co. and the Quad Cities community, Mr. Rafferty said. “It says so much about our community. We are a giving community and it reflects on the charities who are able to sustain their programs and services that we all have used at some time.” Community and service is a huge part of Mr. Rafferty’s DNA.The son of Larry and Pat Rafferty, he and his family moved from the Chicago area to Moline when he was just 5 when Larry Rafferty changed careers from teaching to become a funeral director. “I always thought I’d be a teacher and coach like my dad,” Mr. Rafferty said. Instead, he is a third generation funeral director.He graduated from Alleman High School in 1981 and went on to Black Hawk College where he played baseball and basketball. Mr. Rafferty then graduated from the University of Iowa in 1985 and a year later from Worsham Mortuary Science, now in Wheeling, Illinois. He opened Rafferty Funeral Home in 2007 and is in his 36th year as a funeral director.
JDC a family affair
Married to Colleen Carlin, who he met in high school, in 1989, the Rock Island couple are the parents of four grown children: Patrick, 33; Brendan, 31; Connor, 27, and Annie, 21. In fact, Mr. Rafferty recruited his eldest son to come home with his family for tournament week and be his caddy during the JDC ProAm on Wednesday, July 3.One of the highlights of being chairman is he got to play with 2023 JDC Champion Sepp Straka.While Mr. Said he “had a blast, would absolutely do it again,” he is quick to admit “I’m an avid golfer. Not good.“It’s something we can do as a family… I golf just enough to not get better,” he joked. But he’s no stranger to the JDC having seen its evolution since the early days at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley. “My parents would volunteer at the tournament through Oakwood. As a little kid I saw the volunteer side – and now (is seeing it) through the tournament side.” Asked what can keep the volunteer chair awake with worry, he said “I’m not having trouble sleeping. But it is the unknown that puts you on edge and gives you uncertainty. I don’t even want to talk about the weather.”With the weekend tickets close to being sold out days ahead of Sunday’s championship play, Mr. Rafferty is hopeful for another record year in attendance, ticket sales, and of course, record charitable giving. Looking forward to the second year of Concerts on the Course, Mr. Rafferty said “When CBS pans holes 16, 17 and 18, it’s (going to be) absolutely packed. Even the golfers say how neat it is to have 13,000 people sitting there as they get to the green to sink their last putt.”
