An American Success Story to the Fore!

Like Barack Obama, William Powell had to overcome racism to achieve his dream. He turned an Ohio dairy farm into a nationally acclaimed golf course. This American success story will make you say "Wow!"

William J. Powell built the first nine holes of his Clearview Golf Club mostly by hand starting in 1946. The course opened in 1948. Today it is on the National Register of Historic Places. Of some 16,000 golf courses in the U.S., only about 15 have that distinction. Mr. Powell posed for this photo in 2007 for a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Here’s what you should know about William Powell’s inspiring story:

• He is 91 years old, the great-grandson of an Alabama slave. He discovered golf at age nine when he became captivated by a beautiful golf course near his hometown of Minerva, Ohio. He became a caddy and learned to play the game.

• Notable quote in the Wall Street Journal: “Nobody under 70 years old has any inkling how racist this country was."

• In his youth golf courses routinely refused to let African Americans play, except for high school and college teams. Mr. Powell was a team leader. He helped form the golf team at Wilberforce University.

• During World War II he served in the Army and was stationed in England. Golf courses there, which he played occasionally, did not discriminate and his love of the game increased. But racism was still a hurdle. For example, an English woman once offered him a pillow to sit on because she had heard that African Americans have tails!

• In 1946, with financial backing from two physicians (no bank would agree to a GI loan for him), he bought an old 78 acre dairy farm near Canton, Ohio, on US Route 30 (part of the Lincoln Highway).

• For two years he worked a day job at Timken Company in Canton while at night and on weekends he and his family built the first nine holes of his course—by hand. He was self-taught in course architecture, landscaping, etc.

• In 1948, Clearview Golf Club opened to the public—to everyone. Nine more holes were added decades later. Mr. Powell thus became the only African American to design, build, own and operate a golf course. In 2001, Clearview was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• His daughter, Renee, served as captain of the women’s golf team at Ohio State. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1967.

• Mr. Powell and Clearview have received numerous awards including The National Golf Foundation’s Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year (1992). He has a lifetime PGA membership. The Tiger Woods Foundation maintains a scholarship in the name of William and Marcella Powell.

Key message: What motivated him?

It wasn’t because he felt he could eliminate racism. His motivation was intensely personal. He once told Golf Digest:

• “Who wants to fight a racist, apartheid society all the time?”

• “I had golf in me. And I had to bring it out.”

That sentiment reminds us of what it takes for anyone to overcome obstacles and become an American success story. Wow!

Sources for the post included Golf Digest, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Wall Street Journal.
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This Story Helped Me See More Clearly the Racism William Powell Had to Confront

When Mr. Powell was 16 he played in a golf tournament that did not discriminate--at least not formally. But officials nevertheless tried to intimidate him.

First, they delayed the start of the qualifying round for two hours while trying to find a reason to legally ban him. They couldn't find one. He won the round.

Then, for the first round of tournament play they changed the format so that he would not play with the tournament favorites. He won that round too.

Then officials repeated the move for the second round. “Hands visibly shaking from the stress, he finished third,” wrote John Paul Newport in the Wall Street Journal.

“There should never be that much pressure on any kid to prove that he is the best,” Mr. Powell told Mr. Newport.