Lewis “Gene” Hastings had many loves in his life - Family, friends, patriotism, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears, University of Illinois. But certainly high on the list was his love for the game of golf. Gene took up the game after his four years of service to the United States Air Force, and he quickly seemed to get the hang of it.

Since he was employed at the Danville, Illinois Veteran’s Affairs Hospital he had free use of their nine hole golf course. Decades later when that course closed Gene was honored as one of the most prominent players to ever play it.

Anyone who has ever played the game would be impressed with his accomplishments on the links. He won multiple tournaments, represented the V.A. golf course in several city tournaments, four holes-in-one. Gene played in the day when the equipment was not near what it is today, but he could still hit a four-iron into the green and make it stop on a dime, and lay open a wedge from the sand trap and make the ball back up on the second bounce.

Among his most joyous times on the golf course were with his family. Thousands of rounds with his dad, Charles Cronkite. He loved to spend hours with his sons, Dave and Scott, teaching them the game, beating them, and later in life being beat by them! He marveled at the opportunity to see the love of the game pass down to his grandsons, Kyle, Kirk, and Koby.

Hopefully in heaven he will be able to watch his first great-grandson, Ace, grow up playing the game, which he started doing at the age of two! Ace, Ellie, Jet, River, Harper, and Harlie as well as any future great-grandchildren who walk the links will surely catch his smile.

Gene passed from this life on January 27, 2015. His sons and grandsons began talking immediately about some sort of golf outing that would honor him. That was the beginning of The Geno Trip. The decision was made to take the Friday before Father’s Day and gather together with good friends, play golf all day, and hopefully at some point through the day hit an amazing shot like Geno used to hit!