Leon Gilmore, a golf industry veteran, died Dec. 1. According to his family, he had suffered a major stroke. He was 52 years old.
Gilmore held various roles during his career for First Tee and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. He was also a PGA Tour Champion.
As the director of East Lake Junior Academy’s program serving underserved youth, he started his career in golf in Atlanta. Gilmore spent a year and a half in Atlanta before he moved to First Tee as director of development. He was responsible for strategy and facility development in nine states, and was instrumental in the launch of 35 facilities.
In July 2003, he moved to California to become the executive director of Monterey Peninsula Foundation. He also served as the assistant tournament director for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He was appointed executive director of Charles Schwab Cup, PGA Tour Champions. This made him the second Black PGA Tour executive tour director and the first senior circuit director.
Dedric Holmes, who was a First Tee employee, said that Leon handled the pressure and did his best to make it easier for others. “Leon’s ability connect with people through listening, and his business mind made them a force. He was decisive and confident, but he was also understanding and flexible.
Gilmore was educated at Hampton University, a historically black college. He was a standout student, and collegiate golfer. However, he realized that his talents could be better used outside of the classroom.
Gilmore once said that Phil Mickelson was a member of my generation to the East Bay Times. I would see him at a junior tourney shooting 68 or69. I would shoot 72 and be satisfied. He would be at the range to find out what was wrong.
Gilmore also earned a Master of Sports Administration at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and did internships with Titleist and the PGA Tour. Gilmore has used his business acumen to create several successful ventures in recent years. His last contribution was his partnership in Capital Partners Foundation. There, they hoped to be the first African-American operators and owners of a PGA Tour event.
By: Adam Schupak
Title: Golf industry veteran Leon Gilmore dead at 52
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/12/06/leon-gilmore-dead-at-52/
Published Date: Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:00:16 +0000
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