Bill Powell

William James Powell

(November 22, 1916 – December 31, 2009)

He was an American entrepreneur and visionary in the world of golf. He is renowned for designing and owning the Clearview Golf Club, a groundbreaking golf course known for its integration and its focus on African-American golfers. Powell holds the distinction of being the first African American to design, construct, and own a professional golf course in the United States. His guiding principle was simple: “The only color that matters is the color of the greens.”

Biography:

  • Powell’s roots trace back to Alabama, where his grandparents were slaves. He was born in Greenville, Alabama, and later moved with his family to Minerva, Ohio. In high school, he excelled in both golf and football.
  • During his time at the historically African-American Wilberforce University in Ohio, he continued his golf journey by playing on the university’s golf team.
  • After serving in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II in England, Powell returned to the Canton, Ohio area, near Minerva, in 1946. He initially worked as a janitor and later as a security guard at the Timken bearing and steel company.
  • Due to the racial segregation prevalent at the time, Powell faced barriers, including being barred from all-white public golf courses and being denied a bank loan for his golf course endeavor.
  • Undeterred, with financial support from two African-American doctors and a loan from his brother, Powell purchased a 78-acre dairy farm in East Canton, Ohio. Alongside his wife, Marcella, he personally undertook much of the landscaping work. In 1948, he realized his vision by opening the integrated Clearview Golf Club.
  • In 1978, Powell expanded Clearview to an 18-hole course and received recognition as a national historic site in 2001. Clearview Golf Club remains a unique testament to his legacy, being the only course in the United States designed, constructed, owned, and operated by an African American.
  • Powell passed away in Canton, Ohio, on New Year’s Eve in 2009, following complications from a stroke.

Awards and Honors:

  • 1996: Induction into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame.
  • Powell received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from his alma mater and Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.
  • 2001: Clearview Golf Course was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.
  • 2009: Powell was honored with the 2009 PGA Distinguished Service Award by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, celebrated in conjunction with the 91st PGA Championship.
  • 2019: The Powell family was recognized with the 2019 Old Tom Morris Award by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and was celebrated at the 2019 Golf Industry Show.

Family and Personal:

  1. Powell’s daughter, Renee Powell, a veteran professional golfer herself, became the second black golfer to compete on the LPGA Tour, following the footsteps of Althea Gibson. Renee, now serving as Clearview’s Head Golf Professional, was introduced to golf at a young age by her father and is known as one of the top golf instructors in the U.S.
  2. Powell’s son, Lawrence “Larry” Powell, currently holds the position of Clearview’s Course Superintendent. His work has garnered recognition from both NASA and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.