Walt Dennis has played at Scioto Country Club since he was 12, and was chairman of the U.S. Senior Open held there in August. Photo by Jeffrey S. Hall Photography
Since his family moved to central Ohio when he was a little over a year old, Walt Dennis was a part of the fabric of the Upper Arlington community – no pun intended.
Dennis, the president and CEO of HFI, LLC, joined the company in 1973 when it was known as the House of Foam. At that time, the company’s primary purpose was replacing cushions and foam in chairs and couches. The company went through a slew of ownership changes, and in 2003, Dennis sold the company to a private equity and thought he’d retire.
In 2014, however, he bought the company back. Dennis has helped grow the company’s revenue from $1 million in 1973 to $270 million in 2016. HFI now manufactures seat upholstery for the automotive industry.
Dennis’ work in the community doesn’t stop with HFI. Any regular of the Scioto Country Club will probably recognize him or at least recognize his name, as Dennis boasts seven club championship titles at the club.
Dennis considers himself lucky for having been born into a golfing family. His father, Dick, joined the club in 1954, and Dennis began playing in 1963 – when he was 12 – and has played ever since. Dennis has never lost sight of what was important, thanks to his father.
“The way I was raised was that work came first and things like golf and hunting, which we enjoyed doing together, take second place,” Dennis says. “He instilled in me a work ethic. There was a conflict between the desire to raise a family and play golf. I’m proud of the fact that I was able to maintain a proficiency in the game but never had the time – or never took the time – to try to go beyond that.”
Because of Dennis’ loyalty to the club, he was chosen as general chairman of the U.S. Senior Open Championship, which, for the second time in its history, was held at Scioto Country Club this August. When asked how he found himself in that position, he jokes that he “missed a meeting.”
“They looked at my resume and history with the club, and said that there isn’t anyone as qualified,” says Dennis. Club officials cited Dennis’ knowledge of the Club over 50 years and his proficiency at golf: important factors when choosing a general chair for a major USGA tour.
Dennis was 35 when the Senior Open was last at the Scioto Country club in 1986, and though he wasn’t a part of the Senior Open committee, he volunteered in the Open. What made the site of the 2016 US Senior Open really special, however, is the fact that the club is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Walt Dennis with his family in front of his home in Upper Arlington. From left to right: (back) Son Rick, daughter-in-law Cristine, Walt, Jane, son-in-law Kurt, daughter Kim. (Front) Cate, Jonny and Lizzy with dog Max. Photo courtesy of DDF Photography
“The opportunity to host a major event in the year of the 100th anniversary was, we thought, perfect,” says Dennis. “It would give us the stage to showcase Scioto Country Club as a beautiful place; we establish Scioto’s role in championship golf in the United States.”
Dennis hopes hosting the Senior Open honors the club’s ties to Jack Nicklaus, all-time golf great who grew up golfing at there. Dennis also worked to make the Senior Open an enjoyable event for golfers, spectators and volunteers alike.
“A chance to see championship golf should be thrilling to everybody,” says Dennis. “The conditioning of the Country Club and the golf course, the way we’ll be treating the people – that needs to be world class, and I expect and predict that it will be.”
Dennis has also been very involved in philanthropy in central Ohio throughout his life. Previously, he was involved with Northwest Counseling Services (now Syntero), ProMusica and the Upper Arlington Education Foundation. Dennis is also a part of Recreation Unlimited and the Childhood League Center, and is on the Ohio State University Foundation Board.
Photo by Jeffrey S. Hall Photography
Dennis still makes time for his wife, Jane; his two adult children; Kimberly, 39, and Rick, 36; and his three young grandchildren. Dennis and his wife enjoy golfing and traveling, and Dennis still enjoys hunting when he can. Though Dennis notes that he is an alum of Bowling Green State University and Jane of the University of Wisconsin, the two can’t deny the good OSU has done for the central Ohio community. The pair were principal gifters of OSU’s Jane and Walt Dennis Performance Center, a state-of-the-art indoor golf facility at the OSU Golf Club in UA.
“You can’t live in Columbus without being affected by the great work that OSU does,” Dennis says. “Jane and I are not bashful about how proud we are of Ohio State.”
For now, Dennis is focused greatly on the 100th anniversary of the club, and hopes it will follow the success of the Senior Open in August.
Amanda DePerro is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
