The promotional products industry will gather this October to honor the late, great Jim Buescher, a beloved icon and mentor to countless business professionals for over 40 years.

A highly recognized and inspirational leader, Buescher served in high-profile roles for several California-based firms before becoming partner and COO of Top 40 distributor PromoShop (asi/300446). “He was the father figure that a young company like ours needed,” said Memo Kahan, president of PromoShop. “He truly made a big difference in a lot of people’s lives, and he did it out of care and love and wanting to help when he didn’t have to.”

While everyone that met Buescher felt like he was family, industry veteran Scott Anderson was actually related to him by blood. Buescher was his uncle, godfather, best friend and the ordained minister for his wedding.

“During the mid-90s, I moved to Manhattan Beach and lived a few blocks from Jim and his wife, my Aunt Bobbi,” said Anderson, director of sales of hard goods at Top 40 supplier Polyconcept North America. “I was at their place every weekend just hanging out. Some of the best moments of my life were spent with Jim on his deck talking about whatever came to mind. I think about him every day.”

In honor of Buescher, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 68, The Foundation for SAAC (Specialty Advertising Association of California) named its longstanding golf tournament after the industry legend last year. More than 100 attendees and 90 golfers from all over the United States came to Pasadena, California, which is unheard of for the local event. The proceeds went toward one of Buescher’s biggest passions: education.

“Jim was all about encouraging companies to implement policies to promote higher education or extra efforts beyond the workplace,” said Michael Bistocchi, board member of nonprofit The Foundation for SAAC. “Jim was an avid reader, whether it was about business, philosophy, fiction or nonfiction. He would be very proud of this initiative.”

Although Buescher would be in full support of the cause, you’d have a much better chance finding him at the 19^th hole. “He never played, but I know he would appreciate the effort everyone puts into the tournament,” Anderson said. “Plus, it’s much better than having a memorial racket ball tournament, which was his sport of choice. That would just be ugly.”

The second annual Jim Buescher Memorial Golf Tournament will take place October 24, 2018, at the Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena. All proceeds will go toward funding scholarships for children of SAAC members to promote professional, academic or artistic achievement in post-secondary education. To register for or sponsor the tournament, contact Michael Bistocchi at michaelb@inkcups.com.