Terrorist Threatens LPGA Tour

An unknown caller threatened to shoot into the rooms of the hotel where women from the LPGA were staying. As a precautionary measure, the women were moved to another hotel and were checked in under names that did not correspond to their actual names. You may not have heard about this since it did not make the papers at the time. In fact, the same thing happened on more than one occasion as it was the late 1960's and early 1970's. Why was this caller threatening to shoot into the rooms of women on the tour? Because they had included one of the great players from that era named Rene Powell, who incidentally, was the first regular on the LPGA tour of African American origins.

For those of us in our 60's, we can remember the sad state of race relations in that post World War II era in the US. Fortunately, some things have changed for the better and that same young woman (she is young to me) is being honored this month by the University of St. Andrews in Scotland with an honorary Doctorate degree. Her father, William Powell has been featured in many books and articles as it relates to his founding of the Clearview Golf Course in East Canton, Ohio. This is the same honor that the University of St. Andrews has given to the likes of Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus just to name a few people you might recognize.

Rene's real talent has been in her teaching others to play golf and helping young people to learn and enjoy the game. She has also taught many professional football players to change that raw power they possess into controlled power on the golf course. If you want to read about one of America's great families of sports, check out this website, www.clearview-gc.com and find out about the Powell's.

Psalm 57: 5-6 "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet-I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path-but they have fallen into it themselves."

Monday Morning Message Sent 6/9/08

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