When Sgt. Paul Connolly died suddenly in 2010, a hole was left in the Woburn Police Department—and the community.

The popular Connolly was born and raised in Woburn, where he worked for the Department of Public Works from 1978 to 1982, when he was appointed as a full-time Woburn Police Officer. Five years later, he was promoted to sergeant.

Over the years, Sgt. Connolly was a member of the WPD Honor Guard and oversaw traffic operations, including crossing guards and fatal accidents. In 1996, he was commended for his capture of an armed robbery suspect at the Central Bank.

But Sgt. Connolly was also known in the community as a strong family man, who coached Pop Warner Football and Woburn High School football and baseball.

Now, Sgt. Connolly's family is working to keep his memory alive with two scholarships for children who want to participate in Woburn Pop Warner but can't afford the program.

On Saturday, Jan. 26, at 12:30 p.m. the Second Annual Sgt. Connolly Bean Bag Tournament will be held at the Sons of Italy on Lexington Street. Doors open at 11 a.m. 

In its first year, the tournament raised $7,000 for the Sgt. Connolly Pop Warner scholarships. 

Admission to the 21-years-old and over event is $10. There will also be raffles, door prizes and silent auctions throughout the event.