Tournament raises big bucks for AER

By Marti GatlinMarch 20, 2009

Tournament raises big bucks for AER
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala.--Grady Creel considered winning $1,600 in the 2009 Army Emergency Relief (AER) No-Limit Texas Hold'em Charity Benefit bittersweet. Creel was among 164 players who raised $6,500 for AER during the more than 12-hour tournament March 14 at Aviators' Landing.

After pocketing the cash, the Dothan resident and his wife, Virginia, who also played in the tournament, planned to dedicate the win to their son, Jeff Isbell, an Enterprise firefighter, who died Feb. 10 while attending training at the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa.

"I played tens all day. I'm proud to win," Grady said.

Virginia noted that the money will go to their daughter-in-law, Brandi, and three granddaughters, Erin, 10, Sara, 7, and Kate, 1.

"(His winning was) all for a good cause," Virginia said.

The Creels also carried home a 32-inch TV.

Second-place winner Capt. Glen Miller of the Australian Army won $800 and a $150 cash option in lieu of a game table and third-place winner WO1 Tyler Morse of B Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, won $600.

According to tournament director Scott Morgan, 20 women tried their hand in this year's 4th annual AER tournament that lasted 25 rounds.

In addition to the tournament there will be other AER events including a golf competition April 17 at noon at Silver Wings Golf Course and the all-day 6th MP's Jail-A-Thon May 1 at the Post Exchange.