Bill Powell (golf)
Bill Powell | |
---|---|
Born | William James Powell November 22, 1916 |
Died | December 31, 2009 | (aged 93)
Occupation(s) | businessman, golf course owner, and entrepreneur |
Years active | 1948–2009 |
Spouse(s) | Marcella, ?-1996 (her death) |
Children | Billy (deceased), Renee, Lawrence |
William James Powell (November 22, 1916 – December 31, 2009) was an American businessman, entrepreneur, and pioneering golf course owner who designed the
Biography
Powell was the grandson of Alabama slaves and was born in
After serving in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II in England, he returned to the Canton, Ohio-area near Minerva in 1946, and began work first as a janitor and later as a security guard for the Timken bearing and steel company.[1] Due to racial segregation,[2] he was banned from all-white public golf courses and was rejected for a bank loan to try to build his own.[1] With financing from two African-American doctors and a loan from his brother, Powell bought a 78-acre (320,000 m2) dairy farm in East Canton, Ohio, and with his wife, Marcella, did most of the landscaping by hand. Two years later, in 1948, he opened the integrated Clearview Golf Club.[1] In 1978, he expanded the course to 18 holes and earned a national-historic-site designation in 2001.[3]
As of the 2000s (decade), Clearview was the only course in the United States designed, constructed, owned and operated by an African American.[3]
Powell died in Canton, Ohio, on New Year's Eve, 2009, following complications from a stroke.[1][4]
Awards and honors
* 1996 - Powell was inducted into the
* 2001 - The United States
* 2009 - Powell was named the recipient of the 2009 PGA Distinguished Service Award by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and was honored in conjunction with the 91st PGA Championship.[6]
* 2019 - The Powell family was named the recipient of the 2019 Old Tom Morris Award by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and was honored at the 2019 Golf Industry Show.[8]
Family info and personal
Powell's daughter,
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Goldstein, Richard. "African-American Golf Pioneer Bill Powell Dies at 93" Archived 2016-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, January 1, 2010
- ^ Mitchelson, Ronald L., and Michael T. Lazaro. "The Face of the Game: African Americans Spatial Accessibility to Golf" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, 2004
- ^ a b "Clearfield Golf Club". Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Black golf pioneer Powell dies at 93" Archived 2010-01-06 at the Wayback Machine, ESPN.com
- ^ National Black Golf Hall of Fame Members Archived April 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "William J. Powell receives '09 PGA Distinguished Service Award". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Powell family to receive 2019 Old Tom Morris Award from GCSAA". 2018-09-24. Archived from the original on 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
Sports Illustrated January 11, 2010
External links
- Clearview Golf Course official website
- "After Battling Racism, Veteran Found Peace on His Golf Course" The New York Times, August 8, 2009
- African American Golf Digest
- "William J. Powell receives '09 PGA Distinguished Service Award", WorldGolf.com
- "African-American Golf Pioneer Bill Powell Dies at 93," New York Times, January 1, 2010