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| Honoring the late William J. Powell as a member of the Professional Golfers' Association 2013 Golf Professional Hall of Fame. |
| WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 130th General Assembly of Ohio extend posthumous recognition to William J. Powell on his induction into the Professional Golfers' Association 2013 Golf Professional Hall of Fame; and |
| WHEREAS, Bill Powell left an indelible impression on the people whose lives he touched, and he will long be remembered as a concerned and caring human being--one who showed joy, warmth, and generosity. A U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he began playing golf and caddying at Edgewater Golf Course at the age of nine, and when he was sixteen, he placed third in the junior event at the Orchard Hills Country Club tournament; and |
| WHEREAS, Bill Powell demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the sport of golf, a legacy that will remain forever in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. A former member of the Wilberforce University men's golf team, he was the first black man in American history to play in a collegiate match. He was granted a life membership status by the Professional Golfers' Association at the age of 83, which was retroactive to 1962 when the Caucasian clause was remove from its by-laws, and he was the recipient of the 2009 PGA Distinguished Service Award; and |
| WHEREAS, Displaying self-discipline, perseverance, and resolve, Bill Powell rose above what for many would have been insurmountable obstacles to distinguish himself as a visionary and a role model. In 1946, he became the first and only African-American man to build, own, and operate a golf club when he built Clearview, which became a National and Ohio Historic Site in 2001. His record of achievement stands as a hallmark worthy of emulation, and he inspired countless individuals to excel in numerous areas of endeavor; therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 130th General Assembly of Ohio, in adopting this Resolution, extend posthumous recognition to William J. Powell and, in so doing, salute the memory of a truly honorable man; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit a duly authenticated copy of this Resolution to the family of William J. Powell. |