NATCHEZ — When Robert “Bob” Mims, 93, was honored before the winners of the first Robert Mims Miss-Lou Patriotic Golf Tournament were announced, a fellow veteran approved with a “hoorah”.

Marvin McKenzie Sr., who served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 and did two tours in Korea, 1978 through 1979 and 1981 through 1983, applauded Mims from his table for his service.

“World War II?” McKenzie asked. “Wow, that’s awesome. That’s really awesome.”

The World War II veteran was smiling, as he posed for pictures, still in disbelief about how great the event turned out.

“It was so wonderful,” Mims said.

McKenzie, who lives in Vicksburg and travels to Natchez every Wednesday for a round of golf, was asked to participate in the tournament after Callon Petroleum decided to sponsor a team and fill it with veterans. He made a new buddy on the golf course in teammate John Dale Loomis. Unlike McKenzie though, Loomis has one year left on his contract after serving in Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012.

Despite the difference in generations, it didn’t take long for the two to hit it off.

“It was one of the best tournaments of my life,” Loomis said. “From my heart, to hear Mr. McKenzie tell war stories, it was such a good time.”

Loomis, who is a 2007 Vidalia High School graduate, admittedly didn’t play his best round of golf, but that’s because he battled emotions.

“I kept it together,” Loomis said. “I get so emotional when I talk to older veterans who paved the way. They did it, and we’re following in their footsteps. I held my cool though. I would just go up and take my turn between conversations.”

McKenzie was approached about being on the already sponsored team, and he jumped all over the opportunity.

“When I was playing golf here Wednesday, they announced the tournament and asked if any veterans would like to join, so I raised my hand,” McKenzie said. “I’m a veteran, and I’m proud of it.”

Wilson Supply won the corporate-sponsored tournament with a score of 56. The team of Jimmy Moffett, Bubba Bruce, Kenny Bush and Richard McKinney celebrated the victory together, and because it was the inaugural Robert Mims tournament, Bruce said the victory was even sweeter.

“It’s all about the veterans,” Bruce said. “I play golf with my buddies all the time, and I said, ‘guys, we’re going to go spend money, play golf and have a good time.’ To win it means everything to me. It’s a privilege to be out here. If it wasn’t for those guys, we wouldn’t be able to do things like this.”

Kenny Jackson, Bill Salters, Jack Lazarus and Kinny Carlton combined for a score of 59 for Great River and took second place in the corporate-sponsored tournament. Bob Cosey, Hakeem West, Cornelius Lewis and Henry West scored a 54 to win the non-corporate tournament.

Home with Heroes founder Mark LaFrancis couldn’t have been more pleased with the 20-team turnout.

“The weather brought out far more golfers than anticipated, and we exceeded significantly the number of golfers that were expected,” LaFrancis said. “And we had a dozen or more veterans that played.”

When asked how the Robert Mims Miss-Lou Golf Tournament is trending after its first tournament, LaFrancis gave a wink, saying, “It looks to be full speed ahead.”