About

Our History

The Legacy Invitational - 2021 - 2023

At the end of September, The legacy came together in support of the National Conflict Resolution Center's budding THRIVE initiative. The generosity of The Legacy Family helped launch the THRIVE initiative enabling the youth participants to develop new skills to succeed in school and work, be accountable for achieving their goals, and learn to draw on their experiences to mentor other young people. Under unseasonable threatening skies, the Legacy returned on Saturday evening for an encore at Casa Velencia at the Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa for another gathering of friends and long-standing relationships. Additionally, The Legacy's annual contributions to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and the Pro Kids Academy were honored. With a significant golf course renovation under way at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, the Legacy Golf Invitational was privileged to have La Jolla Country Club host the tournament. On a crystal-clear day when one could nearly see Honolulu from atop the La Jolla Hillside, the competition was spirited and friendly. The loyal generosity of The Legacy Family in 2023 has lifted the contributions to many worthy beneficiaries to $ 9 million since the inaugural Legacy in 2021.

Rolf's Story

As the third most accurate placekicker in NFL history at the time of his retirement, Rolf Benirschke had an illustrious 10-year career with the San Diego Chargers. But Rolf was a reluctant football player, having grown up in a medical family with a world-renowned Pathologist for a father, who was always challenging him to make his life count for something more. Little did Rolf know that he would have that chance, not only because of his athletic prowess but because he would be diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in his second season.

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Jim Sochor Award

The Jim Sochor Legacy Award recognizes a special person in our Legacy Family who best reflects the values that Jim lived by. Values like kindness, gratitude and generosity, competitiveness and integrity, and who always took the time to teach, encourage, and coach. His character and subtle sense of humor and his shining eyes were trademarks of a “good man” who we all enjoyed being around.

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Coach Sochor Award List of Honorees
Richard Helmstetter
2016

Richard Helmstetter

Rick Peters
2017

Rick Peters

Tony Thornley
2018

Tony Thornley

Tim Oitzman
2019

Tim Oitzman

George Young
2021

George Young

Eric Brandt
2022

Eric Brandt

Dale Yahnke
2023

Dale Yahnke

Coach Sochor’s career was characterized by excellence.
A small sample of some of his achievements:
  • Sochor played quarterback at George Washington HS in San Francisco. He also played on the basketball team. He went on to play quarterback for San Francisco State from 1957 to 1959, and led them to three league championships
  • Sochor became the head coach at UC Davis in 1970. Following his first year there, he had a streak of 18 consecutive conference championships, from 1971 to 1988. His overall record between 1970 and 1988 was 156–41–5, a winning percentage of .785. In conference games under Sochor, the Aggies were 92–5. He had winning streaks of 41 and 38 in conference games
  • He was inducted into the Cal Aggie Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995
  • He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999
  • He was awarded the Ronald L. Jensen Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Positive Coaching Alliance in 2008
  • The field at Aggie Stadium is named Jim Sochor Field
  • Coach had many words to live by that he would instill in his teams "Achievement is what you win with, potential is what you lose with"

2023 Sponsors

Thanks to the generous support of our Legacy sponsors, we can underwrite the entire cost of our event. Their contribution enables the proceeds from The Legacy Invitational to go directly to our worthy beneficiaries, making a significant impact on the important work they do for those they serve.