Trailblazers

Dewey Brown Sr.

(1898 - 1973) In 1928, Dewey Brown Sr. became the first African American PGA Member. In 1934, Brown's PGA Member status was withdrawn. In 1965, three years after The PGA of America enforced the deletion of the Caucasian-only clause, Dewey Brown Sr. was reinstated as a PGA Member. Brown became the first African American member of Golf Course Superintendents

Association of America (1958 to 1973).

In 1947, Brown purchased Cedar River House and Golf Club (Indian Lake, New York). His son Dewey Jr. sold the nine-hole facility

between 1976 and 1977.

Carrie Russell

(1929 - 2012) The first African American Teaching and Club Professional Member, and LPGA Master Life Professional Member status. Master Life Professional is the highest honor for LPGA Teaching & Club Professional Membership.

Russell was the first president of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Northeast Section; she served from 1976 to 1978.

Russell coached men's golf at Delaware State University from 1972 to 1980. She was the university's first golf coach. She also taught junior golf at Dover Air Force Base golf course.

Althea Gibson

(1927 - 2003) Althea Gibson made her first professional golf appearance at the 1963 USGA U.S. Women's Open. In that same year, Gibson became the first African American LPGA Tour Member.

Her best finish on the LPGA Tour was at the 1970 Lem Immke Buick Open; she tied for second after a three-way playoff. Her LPGA Tour Member status officially ended in 1971.

Internationally known for her tennis career, Gibson won the 1957 and 1958 U.S. Open Tennis Championships, and the Women's Singles at The Championships, Wimbledon.

E. Pete Brown

(1935 - 2015) Early Pete Brown joined the PGA Tour in 1963. He won the 1964 Waco Turner Open by posting an eight under par; thus, he became the first African American to win a PGA Tour sanctioned event. In 1970 Brown captured his second and final PGA Tour win at the Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational;

he posted a 13 under par.

During his professional golf career, Brown suffered with non-paralytic polio and had difficulty walking. Despite distinct medical challenges, he became an exceptional golfer with remarkable achievements.

William Powell

(1916 - 2009) William Powell, first African American to design, build, own, and operate a nine-hole golf course.

With the financial assistance from his brother and two physicians, the 130-acre dairy land property was purchased. In October 1946, the Powell family began living on the purchased property, which had no indoor plumbing and no adequate heating.

Powell worked a full-time job, repaired the family home, and labored with his bare hands to build Clearview Golf Club. In 1948, Clearview Golf Club opened with nine holes. Powell became sole owner of Clearview Golf Club in 1956. The course expanded to 18 holes in 1978.

Powell was the recipient of the 1996 Unsung Hero Award presented by the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses, the 2009 PGA Distinguished Service Award. In 1997 he received honorary PGA membership from The PGA of America Northern Ohio Section,

and in 2013 he was posthumously inducted into

The PGA of America Hall of Fame.

Charlie Sifford

(1922 - 2015) On March 28, 1960, at age 38, Charlie Sifford became the first African American to receive PGA Approved Tournament Player (ATP) status. Even though the PGA granted Sifford ATP status, he was prohibited from becoming a PGA Member because

of the Caucasian-only clause.

In 1964 Charlie Sifford received full PGA Member status. He captured his first PGA Tour win at the 1967 Greater Hartford Open, and in 1969 he won the Los Angeles Open. In 1975 he joined the Senior PGA Tour and won the Senior PGA Championship.

In 2004, he became the first African American inductee to the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 2006 Sifford became the first African American golfer to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from University of St. Andrews (Scotland, England). On May 3, 2011, Revolution Park Golf Course (Charlotte, North Carolina) was renamed "The Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Course at Revolution Park". In 2014, Dr. Charles Sifford received the Presidential Medal of Freedom

from President Barack Obama.