 Coloradoan
Bell Named Winner
of 2001 PGA First Lady of Golf Award
TravelGolf.com
Staff Report
(MARCH 9, 2001) - Judy Bell, whose lifetime record of service
to the golf industry includes becoming the first woman elected
president of the United States Golf Association, has been named
recipient of the 2001 PGA of America First Lady of Golf Award.
Bell served as the USGA's 54th president from 1996-'97. Today, she is in her 34th year of service to the USGA, and is consulting director of the USGA Foundation. She will be honored at a May 23 ceremony at the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., in conjunction with the 62nd Senior PGA Championship. "Judy Bell's golf career - both as a champion player, Rules official and as an industry leader - has been a record of outstanding achievement," said PGA of America President Jack Connelly. "Judy is a source of inspiration to all she comes in contact with and by her work and example has brought more individuals into the game. The PGA is honored to present her with this year's PGA First Lady of Golf Award."
A native of Wichita, Kan., and a longtime resident of Colorado Springs, Colo., Bell, is a 1961 graduate of Wichita State University, where she was a two-time NCAA runner-up during a prolific amateur golf career. She won three Kansas State Amateur championships and competed at age 14 in the 1950 U.S. Women's Open, the first of 38 USGA championship appearances. Bell, 64, was a member of the Curtis Cup Team in 1960 and '62 and served as captain of the Curtis Cup Team in 1986 and '88. In 1964, she posted a then record 67 in the U.S. Women's Open, a mark that would remain for 14 years. Bell is the only person to captain both a men's and women's U.S. World Amateur Team, leading the women in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1988, and the men in Badsarrow, Germany, in 2000. In 1987 she became the first woman selected to the USGA Executive Committee. She was named vice president of that committee in 1991 before being elected USGA president. Bell has been a USGA Rules official since the 1970s and has worked both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open. In addition to her accomplishments in golf, Bell made an impact in merchandising as either sole or part owner of four clothing stores, two food-service establishments, a kitchen supply shop and a framing store in the Colorado Springs area. She sold those business interests between 1999 and 2000 and is now a partner in Bell Retail Group, specializing in retail consulting and event management. The PGA First Lady of Golf Award, inaugurated in 1998, is presented to a woman who has made significant contributions to the promotion of the game of golf. Past recipients include Barbara Nicklaus and Judy Rankin. The 62nd Senior PGA Championship will be played May 24-27 at The Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. Tickets are available by calling (800) PGA-TCKT (742-8258) or by accessing the Online Ticket Center at www.PGA.com. |
