Fallsnewspress.com - Celebrity sports legends tee up at Clearview golf benefit

Celebrity sports legends tee up at Clearview golf benefit;
Lee Elder, Franco Harris, Leroy Kelly lead a sports legends line-up this Saturday

EAST CANTON – – They are legends on the gridiron and at golf courses around the world, and they are headed to East Canton this Saturday, Aug. 28, to honor the memory of visionary pioneer and lover of golf, William (Bill) J. Powell, and his legacy at Clearview Golf Club.
Among those scheduled to tee-off at 10 a.m. at Historic Clearview are football greats, Leroy Kelly, Franco Harris, Greg Pruitt, John Thierry, Paul Warfield, Kevin Mack and Tom Goosby. They will be joined by pros they have faced across the scrimmage line, including Al Jenkins, George Wilson, Dave Robinson, Jim Houston, Jamie Caleb, Bob Hunt, Ben Davis, Reggie Holmes and Don Cockroft. All are headed to Clearview because of the legacy of Bill Powell.
“I think it is always very special when you have celebrities come to Clearview because of its significance,” said Renee Powell, LPGA/PGA Head Golf Professional at Clearview. “It’s not Augusta or Pebble Beach; it is Clearview, and it’s known for its creation by an individual, my father, who had a vision and a passion to make a difference for all people.”
This is the 26th year for the Clearview Celebrity Tournament, but the first year for the event since the death of Bill Powell, last December.
"My brother and I look forward to this event,” said Renee Powell, “but the missing link will be our father, Mr. P."
One very special celebrity guest this year will be Lee Elder, PGA professional who broke the color barrier at Augusta as the first African-American to play at the Masters in 1975. Elder paved the way for African-Americans on the PGA Tour, in much the same way as Bill Powell did with his design and building of Clearview and as Renee Powell did during the years she played on the LPGA Tour.
“This is Lee Elder's first time coming to Clearview,” said Renee Powell. “He was shocked to hear of my dad's death, after the fact, and said he wanted to come here to pay tribute to him.”
The four-person teams are finalized for the tournament, said Powell. Due to space limitations, only tournament participants will be permitted on the course that day, as each team will be accompanied by a celebrity partner during the 18-hole scramble.
“Those personalities who come to Clearview, come because they want to,” said Powell, adding that, “Having Lee Elder come is pretty special because he, too, is a part of golf history.”
Sponsors for this year’s event include Cracker Barrel, Anheuser Busch, Southeast Club Car Co., Canton Table & Chair, Mercedes Benz USA and Giant Eagle.
Proceeds benefit the Clearview Legacy Foundation for education, research, training and the preservation of Clearview Golf Club for future generations.
For details, contact Renee Powell at 330-488-0404 or by e-mail at cv46@aol.com or check the Clearview Web site at www.clearview-gc.com.

About Clearview Golf Club

Clearview Golf Club, known as “America’s Course,” is the only golf course designed, built, owned and operated by an African-American, the late William Powell. The first nine holes of the course opened to the public in 1948, and the course was expanded by Mr. Powell to 18 holes 30 years later. In 2001, Clearview, located on U.S. Route 30, The Lincoln Highway, was named a National Historic Site by the U.S. Department of the Interior and an Ohio Historic Site. Powell, a PGA Life Member and the 2009 PGA Distinguished Service Award recipient, passed away at age 93 on Dec. 31, 2009. His daughter Renee, LPGA/PGA, is the Head Golf Professional at Clearview, and son Larry, Golf Course Superintendent Association of America member, is Clearview's Caretaker and Course Superintendent.