One of her finest moments in golf was at a couples tournament in Palm Springs, where, upon completion of their round, a voice on the loudspeaker announced the scores: Bob Hope - 78, Dolores Hope - 76!

Some recent highlights of the past few years included sponsoring/christening the USNS BOB HOPE (AK-300) in New Orleans, the unveiling of a new C-17 - "THE SPIRIT OF BOB HOPE" in Santa Monica, California, and sharing the applause from the members of Congress as Bob was made an honorary veteran at a celebration in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington D.C. And Bob stood on the sidelines as Dolores received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Palm Springs Walk of Fame.

At St. Charles Borremeo Catholic Church in North Hollywood they shared honors as Cardinal Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles presented them with papal honors from Pope John Paul II - Knight and Dame of St. Gregory the Great with Star. Dolores is one of four women in the world to have been presented the Dame of St. Gregory with Star. And they both received the Chancellor Medal from the University of California, Riverside.

In September 1999, Dolores received the Terence Cardinal Cooke Humanitarian Award from Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center at their annual Charity Ball at the Waldorf Astoria. She received the Winnie Palmer Humanitarian Award from the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association and the Patronal Medal from the Catholic University of America by Monsignor Bransfield of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, back in the Bronx, a street has been named after her - Dolores DeFina Hope; she has been inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame and at the famous New York Botanical Garden the permanent installation of the Tree Peony Collection bears her name.

Dolores Hope has been honored, feted and esteemed - she has seven Honorary Doctorates. She has been the Honorary Mayor of Palm Desert five times, named "Woman of the Year" by the Los Angeles Times and honored with "The Wind Beneath My Wings Award" from the Betty Clooney Foundation. Among her other awards are "Chicago Lady of the Year" from Notre Dame University, the "Eleanor Darnell Carroll Award" from Georgetown University, The Cardinal's Award from Caridnal Mahony and honors from the National Committee of Catholic Women (in Chicago) presented by Cardinal Bernardin. The Helping Hand Organization of Cedars-Sinai Hospital named her "Outstanding Mother of the Year."

Loyola College in Baltimore gave her "The President's Medal." St. Louis University named her "Outstanding Catholic Laywoman." The Holy Family Adoption Service gave her the "Gift of Life Award." Seton Hall College presented her with the "Elizabeth Seton Medal Award" in recognition of her Christian virtues and she is also a recipient of the Humanitarian Scopus Award and the Coveted Criss Award.

Recognized for both her Italian and Irish heritage, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Humanitarian Services by the National Italian American Foundation; the Distinguished Leadership Award by the American Ireland Fund, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. It is amazing that she had any time for singing.

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