Join Us for a Day of Golf and Giving

Third Annual Harry E Diezel Golf Tournament

Support our heroes by participating in this exciting fundraising event. Gather your team and help us make a difference in the lives of those who protect and serve our communities.

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Team Spirit

Form a team with friends or colleagues and compete for a great cause.

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Community Impact

Your participation directly supports local public safety officials and their families.

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Exciting Prizes

Win amazing prizes and enjoy a day filled with fun activities.

Event Flyer

About the Tournament

The Third Annual Harry E Diezel Golf Tournament is a prestigious event dedicated to raising funds for Vigilant Watch, Inc. This tournament not only offers a day of enjoyable golf but also serves a greater purpose by supporting public safety officials and their families who face hardships. By participating, you contribute to a noble cause, ensuring that those who protect us receive the assistance they need in times of crisis. Join us in making a tangible difference in our community.

Tournament Schedule and Location

Join us for a full day of golf, camaraderie, and charity at the Third Annual Harry E Diezel Golf Tournament. This event promises not only a challenging course but also the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals dedicated to supporting our local heroes. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of something truly impactful.

Date

May 2, 2025

Time

8:00am – 6:00pm

Location

Stumpy Lake Golf Course
4797 Indian River Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23456

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2025 Golf Tournament Rules

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Harry E. Diezel, Fire Chief 1974 - 1997

Harry E. Diezel became Fire Chief of the Virginia Beach Fire Department on May 1, 1974. Chief Diezel took over the helms of a department consisting of 120 career firefighters of the Virginia Beach Borough, with the remainder of the city being served by 13 volunteer fire departments. Harry Diezel spent virtually his entire life serving both his community and his country. He first entered the fire service in 1958 as a volunteer member of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Service and in 1966 he became a career firefighter with that county. His volunteer service was punctuated with the completion of active military duty and included assignments to the 82nd Airborne and 1st Calvary Divisions.

Chief Diezel’s leadership did a great deal to shape the Virginia Beach Fire Department into what it is today. He challenged State Building codes to improve fire prevention measures in high rise and multi-dwelling structures along the oceanfront, laid the ground work for neighboring cities in Southside Hampton Roads to respond to fires across city lines which evolved into ‘Automatic Aid’, allowing dispatchers to reach across city lines so that the closest fire company responds to an emergency, and was instrumental in securing the funding for the Urban Search and Rescue FEMA Team, Virginia Task Force 2, housed in Virginia Beach. Members of this elite team, as well as other FEMA teams from across the country, now train in Virginia Beach at the Harry E. Diezel Fire Training center that will forever bear his name.

The Harry E. Diezel Fire Training Center itself is part of Chief Diezel’s legacy. Construction of the training center began in 1978 and in 1979, the 10,000 square foot facility was complete with administrative offices, a 120-seat auditorium, training classrooms, a full-service library, and a burn building. In February of that same year, the facility opened and 24 VBFD recruit firefighters were the first to be trained in the state-of-the art regional fire training center.

Chief Diezel retired in September of 1997 but his commitment to public service did not end there. In 2002, he was unanimously appointed to City Council to represent the Kempsville District of Virginia Beach. He served on Council for ten years and functioned as an ombudsman for all public safety divisions within the city.