IN MEMORY OF...

Charlie Sifford was born on 6/2/1922, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was a professional golfer, and a pioneer in the sport.

In 1952, after playing in numerous golf tournaments organized by Black golfers, he attempted to qualify for a PGA tour event at the Phoenix Open. He was refused, and met with threats and racial abuse.

At this time, Black golfers were excluded from playing with the association because of racial segregation, not only at that event, but at other tournaments as well.

In  1957, Sifford became the first Black man to win a professional golf tournament by winning the Long Beach Open. It was not a PGA event, but was co-sponsored by the PGA, and had a number of well-know white players in the field.

Finally in 1961 he was admitted to the PGA tour, thus becoming the first Black man to do so. 

Six years later in 1967, Sifford became the first Black man to win a PGA tour event when he won the Greater Harvard Open Invitational .

In 2004 he broke ground again, becoming the first Black man to be inducted into the World Golf  Hall of Fame.

Sifford passed away on 2/3/2015 at the age of 92, in Cleveland, Ohio.

To read the details of his life Google-search his name