This year, the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomed four distinguished individuals into their esteemed Hall of Fame. Among those honored at the Tuesday, October 17th event held at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center is the groundbreaking professional golfer, Renee Powell. As the renowned American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, once eloquently stated, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” This sentiment aptly encapsulates the extraordinary accomplishments of Renee Powell. Other inductees were comprised of Josh Cribbs, Bob Kain, and Lou Slapnik.
Renee Powell, an iconic figure, made history as the second African American to compete on the LPGA Tour and the first African American woman to attain membership in the PGA. In 2022, she received the inaugural Charlie Sifford Award from the World Golf Hall of Fame. Powell’s impressive golf career spanned over 250 tournaments from 1967 to 1980, and in 2003, she received the prestigious First Lady of Golf Award from the LPGA. Hailing from East Canton, Renee Powell attended Central Catholic High School.
The Powell family’s unwavering commitment to transforming the landscape of golf cannot be overstated. Inspired by the racial discrimination her father, Bill Powell, encountered on the golf course after serving in World War II, he took it upon himself to design and construct a golf course that welcomed all individuals. Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, the first golf course in the United States designed, built, and owned by an African American, opened its first nine holes in 1948, with the second nine added in 1978. Renee went on to become Clearview’s Head Professional, carrying on her family’s legacy.
LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan aptly noted, “Renee Powell is a global ambassador and trailblazer within the game and has provided a model for how to use golf as a means of inclusion.”
These inductees are a testament to the finest in Cleveland-area sports, spanning from high school coaching to the pinnacle of athletic representation. This year’s honorees shattered racial barriers, navigated successful careers, served as inspirations to countless young individuals, and demonstrated exceptional skills on the football field.
Josh Cribbs, celebrated for his illustrious career with the Cleveland Browns as a returner, receiver, and occasional quarterback, as well as his record-setting achievements at Kent State, where he was a four-year starting quarterback, left an indelible mark on the football world.
Bob Kain, the former President and CEO of International Management Group (IMG), made an enduring impact during his 31-year tenure with IMG, shaping the landscape of the sports industry. A former four-year letterman in tennis at the University of Virginia, his contributions to the world of sports are truly remarkable.
Lou Slapnik, the illustrious coach who secured nine state championships during his 17-year tenure as Collinwood’s girls track coach, also achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Jesse Owens Cleveland City championship every year he coached. His nine state titles place him third in Ohio’s history and make him the most successful coach in Cleveland’s history.
For further information about the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, please visit www.clevelandsportshall.com.
