There will be even more stories told than usual at Fred Biletnikoff’s annual golf tournament this year, in part because of a roll call of those who remain with the silver in black but only in spirit.

In a little over three months in 2015, the Raider family lost former defensive coordinator Charlie Sumner on April 3, wide receiver Art Powell on April 6, fullback Marv Hubbard on May 4 and quarterback Ken Stabler on July 8.

In a conference call to help promote the 12th Annual Fred Biletnikoff Hall of Fame Invitational May 2 at Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, the host let out a laugh when asked if the day would include stories about four names etched in Raider lore.

“There always are,” Biletnikoff said Tuesday. “It really affects you emotionally when you find out they’ve passed away, it shocks you because you never think it could happen. We all had a great run of friendship together, winning, having laughs and just having a good time.

“Don’t worry. All those names will come up when we all get together, and believe me, we’ll have a lot of laughs. That’s the Raider way.”

While the tournament stresses good times, its cause couldn’t be more dear to Biletnikoff’s heart. Along with an annual crab feed, it is the primary fund raiser for the Biletnikoff Foundation dedicated to supporting at-risk youth.

The crown jewel of the foundation, and the vision of Biletnikoff and his wife Angela, is Tracey’s Place of Hope, a home in Loomis, Ca., scheduled to open in late April or early May which will house 14 to 18 girls and young women in crisis with mental health and/or substance abuse problems.

Tracey Biletnikoff was strangled by her boyfriend, currently serving prison sentence for first degree murder, at a drug rehabilitation center in February of 1999.

The foundation was created to commemorate Tracey’s life and make education programs to those who are dealing with substance abuse and gender violence.

“It means the world to Angela and I that a lot of the same people who play in this tournament every year are the same people who were among the first to call us after Tracey’s passing,” Biletnikoff said.

Among those expected to participate include Tim Brown, George Atkinson, Willie Gault, Tom Flores, Mervyn Fernandez, James Lofton, Cliff Branch, Daryle Lamonica, Vida Blue, Richard Dent, Charlie Joiner, Mike Haynes, Eric Wright, Dwight Hicks, Kellen Winslow and Raiders coach Jack Del Rio.

Others attending include Jim Otto, Clem Daniels and Lincoln Kennedy.

Biletnikoff is enthused about the current direction of the Raiders franchise, and not just because their leading receivers were winners of the award that bears his name as the top college receivers in the country.

“I really feel that Jack and his coaching staff and (general manager) Reggie McKenzie have brought something back to the Raiders that has been missing for a number of years,” Biletnikoff said. “You go to the facility, people are excited, they’re talking about the team, they’re talking about the players. You sense an accountability there among the players for what they do on and off the field.”

Biletnikoff said he saw some promise in a 7-9 season a year ago that other than Week 1 against Cincinnati, didn’t include the blowout losses which the Raiders sustained in the last decade.

“Listen, finally last year I didn’t leave a home game early all season,” Biletnikoff said. “You felt like anything could happen, and they were in all the games.”

— Spots remain open for foursomes and individual players. For more information call (925) 556-2525 or visit the foundation’s web site at http://www.biletnikoff.org for an on-line registration site.