William “Bill” Bishop, a pioneering golfer, died on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at his home in Philadelphia. He was 91.
He was an African American PGA golf professional and amateur golfer who impacted the development of golf on the Eastern Coast of the United States.
“Bishop,” as his friends affectionately called him, was one of the first four African Americans to achieve PGA professional status.
He was also a founder, stockholder, board member and head golf professional of the Greater Philadelphia Golf and Country Club’s Freeway Golf Course in Sicklerville, N.J.
Bishop and his friends, sponsors and supporters established the Bill Bishop Junior Golf Foundation. For 43 years, the Bill Bishop Benefit Golf Classic funded junior golf programs for youth ages 8 to 18.
This venue provided an opportunity for many African Americans to play in a notable tournament as aspiring professional golfers and for championship amateurs to develop and hone their skills.
He is survived by: his sons, Tony Bishop of Akron, Ohio, and Kevin Lindsay (Teresa) of Vineland, N.J.; grandchildren, William Anthony Bishop III, Matthew Lindsay, Nikki Lindsay, Anthony Lindsay, Andre Lindsay and Brianna Lindsay; and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be held on March 2 at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 1530 N. 11th St. Viewing is at 9 a.m. Services will follow at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bill Bishop Junior Golf Scholarship Fund.
Terry Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
