Judy Bell, whose lifetime record of service to the golf industry
includes becoming the first woman to be elected president of the
United States Golf Association, has been named recipient of the
2001 PGA First Lady of Golf Award.
A native of Wichita, Kan., and a longtime resident of Colorado
Springs, Colo., Bell was elected the USGA's 54th president from
1996-97. Today, the 64-year-old Bell is in her 34th year of service
to the USGA, and is consulting director of the USGA Foundation.
Bell will be honored at a May 23 reception 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 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."
Bell is a 1961 graduate of Wichita State University, where she
was a two-time NCAA runner-up during a prolific amateur career.
She won three Kansas State Amateur championships, and competed at
age 14 in the 1950 U.S. Women's Open, which would be the first of
38 USGA championship appearances.
Bell was a two-time Curtis Cup Team member (1960, '62) and a two-time
Curtis Cup Team Captain (1986, '88). In 1964, Bell posted a then-record
67 in the U.S. Women's Open, a mark that would remain for 14 years.
Bell is the only individual 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.
She was the first woman selected to the USGA Executive Committee
(1987), and 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 golf
administrative and playing accomplishments, 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. Bell sold those business interests
between 1999 and 2000, and is now partner in Bell Retail Group,
specializing in retail consulting and managing special events.
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.
