By Akil Washington, Published on July 17, 2024

Seattle, WA — In a historic move, Seattle Parks and Recreation has renamed the Jefferson Golf Course to the Bill Wright Golf Complex. The decision honors the legacy of Bill Wright, a trailblazing African American who broke the color barrier in golf by becoming the first African American to win a United States Golf Association event.

A Champion’s Journey

Bill Wright’s story is one of resilience, determination, and triumph. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, a Franklin High School graduate and a Western Washington College alum. His victory in the 1959 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship marked a pivotal moment in golf history. Wright went on to win the NAIA Men’s Golf Championship individual title in 1960.

The Struggle for Inclusion

Wright faced discrimination and exclusion throughout his career. Golf courses were segregated, and opportunities for Black golfers were severely limited. He fought against the PGA’s “Caucasian-only” clause, which barred non-white players from participating in PGA-sanctioned events. 

Wright became the first Jr. golfer of the Fir State Golf Club, Seattle’s first African American golf club. The club was founded in 1947 and was pivotal in giving minorities a means to participate in local tournaments. With the support of Fir State Golf Club, Wright’s talent and determination propelled him to victory. Berdell Knowles Jr. (Pres. Fir State Golf Club) was very aware of the temporality of the occasion, “We live in a country that has trouble with honesty…this is important to me because by memorializing the story of Bill Wright and what he had to face here at Jefferson helps make sure that story continues to be told.”

Community Efforts Lead to Renaming

The renaming of Jefferson Golf Course to the Bill Wright Golf Complex is the culmination of years of community advocacy. The Beacon Hill Council, Fir State Golf Club, and Friends of Bill Wright collaborated to honor his legacy. Kathy Colombo (Beacon Hill Council) stated, “When this idea came to the Beacon Hill Council it was really apparent to me that this was an injustice that needed to be served.” Their actions demonstrate the community’s commitment to recognizing past injustices and advancing equity and inclusion. 

The attendees were keenly aware of the significance of community involvement in initiating and approving the renaming process.  As Bob Woodard (Fir State Golf Club) stated, ‘This is an example of inclusion. The community came together to do this project.” Mr. Woodard is the former president of Fir State Golf Club and had a unique viewpoint on the impact the renaming process can have on the community and the country. “It becomes a portrait to other communities or the rest of the country to see what can be accomplished together.”

A Monument to Progress

Seattle Parks and Recreation Assistant Superintendent Christoper Williams stated, “Renaming this park is important because we can sit down and talk to young people and tell them a story about Bill Wright and the challenges and obstacles that he overcame.” The renaming stands as a testament to the progress made since 1947, while also serving as a reminder of the ongoing fight against racial discrimination.

Bill Wright’s story is important to Beacon Hill and the South Seattle community’s history. Beacon Hill is a diverse neighborhood of more than 40,000 people – 70% people of color, 40% immigrant and refugee with 29% of the population living below the poverty line. Mark Solomon (Beacon Hill Council) a long-time Beacon Hill resident was celebratory and acknowledged the delayed recognition of many impactful community leaders. “The significance of this day is that it’s been a long time coming. There’s a lot of unsung heroes in South Seattle that people don’t know about, and Bill Wright is one of them.”

Golf is a beautiful game but like many institutions in the United States, it has a past of excluding “non-white” participants. The renaming of Jefferson Park Golf Course to Bill Wright Golf Complex is a reminder of the past while celebrating a community effort to acknowledge and include “non-white” heroes in the history of golf.  Derek Liddell (Pres. AP National Golf Club) captured this sentiment, “This stands as a beacon for inclusive golf for all of Washington and the United States!”

Celebrating Bill Wright

On July 13th, the community gathered at the Bill Wright Clubhouse to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Wright’s U.S. Public Links win. The renaming ceremony on October 10th, 2024, will further honor his legacy.

As the fairways of golf open to all, the Bill Wright Golf Complex serves as a powerful reminder that progress continues, and inclusion remains the goal.

Terrell Elmore and Evan Nelson contributed reporting