Bill Spiller (2454 hits)

Bill Spiller (1913-1988) was one of the first African-American golf pros to challenge Jin Crow clauses in the PGA excluding Black players from membership.

An alumnus of Wiley College (TX), Spiller planned to become a teacher, but being unable to find a well-paying position, he moved to Los Angeles and became a redcap at Union Station, where colleagues encouraged him to take up golf. A talented athlete, he found that the sport came naturally. His career included achievements such as tying for second place in the 1948 Los Angeles Open after working an 8-hour graveyard shift at Union Station.

Along with Teddy Rhodes, Spiller brought a lawsuit in 1948 against the PGA after being denied the right to participate in the 1948 Richmond (CA) Open because of their race. Spiller dismissed the lawsuit after PGA lawyers agreed to remove discriminatory clauses from the tournament eligibility; however the PGA reneged on the agreement by circumventing their own rules, sponsoring invitation-only tournaments (to which Blacks were not invited).

Spiller continued a series of legal battles for 12 years until the PGA revised their eligibility in 1961as a direct result of his actions; too late for Spiller to make a professional career in the PGA, but paving the way for future Black golf pros.

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©2008 BlackGolfNet / SACHA Interactive Posted By: Jon C.
Tuesday, July 8th 2008 at 10:45AM
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