Joseph Dey
Encyclopedia
Joseph C. "Joe" Dey, Jr. (November 17, 1907 – March 3, 1991) was an American
golf
administrator. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
.
Dey was born in Norfolk, Virginia
. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
. A skilled amateur golfer, Dey took an early job as sportswriter for Philadelphia newspapers and magazines, eventually specializing in golf, and covered the final leg of Bobby Jones
's Grand Slam
at Merion Golf Club
in Philadelphia in 1930. Soon afterwards, Dey was approached by the United States Golf Association
and offered a job helping to run its New York office. Dey served as Executive Director
of the USGA from 1934 to 1968, during a period of extraordinary growth in the sport. He played a key role in meetings between the USGA and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in the early 1950s, to synchronize the rules of golf
around the world.
Following his retirement from the USGA, Dey was asked to serve as the first Commissioner of the PGA Tour
, after the tournament players broke away from the PGA of America. He held that position from 1969 until 1974, when he was succeeded by Deane Beman
. Dey was the instigator of The Players Championship
, which was first held in 1974.
After retirement, he held the honorary position of Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
for 1975.
in recognition of meritorious service to the game of golf as a volunteer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
administrator. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
.
Dey was born in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. A skilled amateur golfer, Dey took an early job as sportswriter for Philadelphia newspapers and magazines, eventually specializing in golf, and covered the final leg of Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
's Grand Slam
Grand Slam (golf)
The Grand Slam in golf is winning all the golf's major championships in the same calendar year.-The Men's Grand Slam:The Grand Slam in men's golf is an unofficial concept, having changed over time. In the modern era, The Grand Slam is generally considered to be winning all four of golf's major...
at Merion Golf Club
Merion Golf Club
Merion Golf Club is a private golf club located near Ardmore, Pennsylvania that is consistently rated by Golf Digest, among America's greatest golf courses, and will host the U.S. Open in 2013...
in Philadelphia in 1930. Soon afterwards, Dey was approached by the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
and offered a job helping to run its New York office. Dey served as Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the USGA from 1934 to 1968, during a period of extraordinary growth in the sport. He played a key role in meetings between the USGA and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in the early 1950s, to synchronize the rules of golf
Rules of golf
The rules of golf are a standard set of regulations and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the R&A the governing body of golf worldwide except in the United States and Mexico, which are the responsibility of the United States Golf...
around the world.
Following his retirement from the USGA, Dey was asked to serve as the first Commissioner of the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, after the tournament players broke away from the PGA of America. He held that position from 1969 until 1974, when he was succeeded by Deane Beman
Deane Beman
Deane R. Beman is an American professional golfer, golf administrator, and golf course architect.Beman was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he played for the varsity golf team. Following graduation, Beman had a career in the insurance...
. Dey was the instigator of The Players Championship
The Players Championship
The Players Championship is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour.Originally known as the Tournament Players Championship, the inaugural event in 1974 was played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia before moving to the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas in 1975 and Inverrary...
, which was first held in 1974.
After retirement, he held the honorary position of Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world . It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf"...
for 1975.
Legacy
Since 1996, the USGA has given out the Joe Dey AwardJoe Dey Award
The Joe Dey Award is given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of meritorious service to the game of golf as a volunteer. It is named in honor of Joseph Dey, Jr., who was the USGA's executive director for 35 years and also served as the first PGA Tour commissioner.-Winners:* 2011...
in recognition of meritorious service to the game of golf as a volunteer.