PGA Life Members Malarkey, Powell honored in N.Y.

PGA Life Members Don Malarkey -- the PGA's oldest living member at 101 -- and William Powell were honored during the PGA of America's 90th Anniversary celebration in New York Monday.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- PGA Life Members Don Malarkey of South Pittsburg, Tenn., and William Powell of East Canton, Ohio, whose passion for the game of golf was reflected by their love to teach and promote the game, were honored guests at The PGA of America's 90th Anniversary celebration, Monday, April 10, 2006, in New York City.

The PGA marked its anniversary at the site of its founding, the Holiday Inn Martinique on Broadway, where on April 10, 1916, The Professional Golfers' Association of America organized with 78 professionals as it first members. A reception was held, featuring a historical timeline that brings together events and achievements throughout The PGA of America's 90 years.

The reception also featured PGA Professionals providing lessons, represented by both the Metropolitan PGA Section and by PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino. In addition, the Wanamaker Trophy, the prize hardware established in 1916 for the winner of the PGA Championship, was on display. The Trophy was donated by Rodman Wanamaker, a department store magnate in New York and son of one of the country's pioneer merchants.

John Wanamaker-Leas of Philadelphia, and Palm Beach, Fla., great grandson of Rodman Wanamaker, was among the guests at the reception.

The following provides a closer look at PGA Life Members Don Malarkey and William Powell:

DON MALARKEY -- The oldest living member of The PGA of America, Malarkey turned 101 on April 3, 2006. Born on April 3, 1905, in Vandergriff, Pa., Malarkey competed in the 1939 and 1941 U.S. Opens. He was also in the qualifying medal-play tournament of the 1927 and 1941 PGA Championships, but did not reach the match-play first round. Malarkey and Jack Burke Sr. were the only full-time PGA club Professionals to reach the medal play portion of the 1927 PGA Championship. A close friend of Harvey Penick, one of the game's renowned PGA teaching Professionals, Malarkey spent most of his professional career at Signal Mountain (Tenn.) Golf and Country Club, some 12 miles from Chattanooga.

An accomplished pianist and a former licensed pilot, Malarkey can claim to have accomplished a feat that is rare in golf -- having matched or shot his age. In 1998, when the biography A Lotta Malarkey was written by G.Z. ìBoneî Patten, Malarkey had already shot his age 625 times.

His son, Mike, 60, is a PGA Life Member and a former University of Tennessee men's golf coach.

WILLIAM POWELL -- The only African-American to design, build and own a golf course in the United States, Powell turns 90 in November 2006. He will also celebrate another feat this year -- Clearview Golf Club of East Canton, Ohio, which he built out of a 78-acre dairy farm in 1946, marks its 60th anniversary of providing opportunities in golf to everyone. Having been denied access to public golf courses when he returned from World War II, Powell sought financial support from two African-American doctors that he taught golf to, in order to complete his dream. In 1948, Clearview Golf Club opened as a nine-hole course. Powell bought out his partners in 1959, and the former security guard quit his job to devote his entire energy to the course. He built a second nine holes in 1978. The family continues Clearview Golf Club's heritage, with Powell's son, Lawrence, who has served as course superintendent since 1978; and daughter, Renee, who is the PGA Head Professional. The 2003 PGA First Lady of Golf, Renee Powell holds dual membership in The PGA of America and the LPGA, and is the second African-America woman to compete on the LPGA Tour. Clearview Golf Club is on the roster of the National Register of Historic Places.

Founded in 1916, The PGA of America is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. Its more than 28,000 men and women professionals are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.