EAST CANTON -- William (Bill) Powell, 92 of East Canton became the only African-American to design, build, own and operate a golf course.

Powell will be honored by the PGA with the 2009 PGA Distinguished Service Award on August 12 at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.  

"This is quite and honor and it is something I savor due to so many good people in the PGA that made it happen," said Powell.  "I am so humbled to have people think this way of me.  I have had so many special things happen to me, I believe, because golf sees no color.  It is a game that brings out the best in people and it is vital to young people."  

After being turned away from many public golf courses in the 1940's because of the color of his skin, it became Powell's dream to build a golf course for players of all colors.  

In September of 1946 Powell was denied a G.I. Loan but received the financial backing of two black physicians in Canton and Massillon. 

Powell then added his own part of the capital and in 1948 the first nine holes of Clearview Golf Club opened.  

The success of Clearview eventually enabled Powell to purchase another 52 acres and in 1978 the second nine holes were opened.  

"I think people realize how hard I worked to get this course started, but they didn't' understand why I was so motivated.  I had a lot of anxiety. I felt that something was going to happen before I finished.  Twenty-four hours in the day was not enough," said Powell about Clearview.  

Powell discovered a love for golf at age nine by playing and caddying.  In high school Powell became a multi-sport athlete at Minerva High School.  Powell and his friends formed a golf team.         

He was the first black to compete in a junior event at Orchard Hills Country Club in North Canton, in which he finished third.   Powell later went on to college at Wilberforce University in Xenia, Ohio.  He participated in the first inter-racial collegiate golf match in American history.  

He met and married his late wife Marcella in 1940.  Powell then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.  Powell and his wife then returned to Canton where Powell worked at Timken Company for 23 years.  

Powell is father to Renee Powell, who became the second African-American female to compete on the LPGA Tour in 1967.  

Powell and his family have been honored numerous times by the golf community, inducted into the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame and the National Black Golf Hall of Fame. Powell even has scholarships named after him.         

Clearview Golf Club is still family owned and operated public course in East Canton.  It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.