The 41st Annual Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show began Dec. 3 with an awards ceremony recognizing a pioneer in the game of golf.
William Powell, Owner, Clearview Golf Club, was presented the prestigious Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF) Professional of the Year Award. Ninety-one year-old Powell is the only African-American to design, build, own and operate a golf course in the world. In 1946, after his return from fighting in World War II, he broke ground for Clearview Golf Club near Canton, Ohio after being refused permission to play area golf courses because he was black.
Powell has won numerous other awards, including The Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year Award; Cornerstone of Freedom Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, and the “Diamond in the Rough Tribute” by the National Golf Foundation. He also has been inducted in the National Black Golf Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, among other accomplishments.
Powell’s award was presented by Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D., Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design.
The Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show was held Dec. 3-6 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Despite an unexpected storm blanketing much of Ohio with up to 6 inches of snow, more than 2,200 turfgrass professionals from around the region weathered the storm so they could attend the popular annual event.
More than 100 hours of educational programming and nearly 200 companies exhibiting the latest in turfgrass products and services participated in the nation’s largest regional event for the turfgrass industry.
Other highlights from this year’s Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show included:
OTF Professional Excellence Awards were presented to John Miller and Mike O’Keeffe. Miller is former Superintendent of Yankee Trace Golf Club in Dayton, Ohio, and recently accepted a position with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) as its first LPGA Agronomist.
Mike O’Keeffe is Program Manager, Global Turf/Golf Training Programs in the International Exchange Program at The Ohio State University (OSU) specializing in Agricultural and Horticultural Internships. O’Keeffe is responsible for bringing dozens of foreign turfgrass students to golf course positions around the country, and for placing OSU students at golf courses around the world.
Marty Brennaman, Hall of Fame Broadcaster and radio voice of the Cincinnati Reds gave the annual Keynote Speech. Following his highly-entertaining Keynote Speech, Brennaman received a standing ovation from more than 700 in attendance.
2007 OTF President Mark Jordan, Superintendent, Westfield Company Country Club presented a check in the amount of $154,000 to Bobby Moser, Ph.D., Dean, OSU College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The check represented OTF’s 2007 donations of $132,000 for turfgrass research and extension outreach, and $22,000 in student scholarships awarded to 12 turfgrass students from around Ohio.
GCSAA and Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) continuing education credits were offered for each day of the conference. Pesticide license re-certification credits were available for participants from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Ohio Pesticide Applicators License testing and Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) certification testing was offered the last day of the event.
The Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show is sponsored by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, and The Ohio State University Extension. Supporting industry organizations include the Ohio Lawn Care Association, Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association, Ohio Sod Producers Association, and GCSAA Ohio Chapters.
For additional information, contact the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation at 888-683-3445, fax 740-452-2552, info@OhioTurfgrass.org or visit www.OhioTurfgrass.org.
