 | This article'stone or style may not reflect theencyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia'sguide to writing better articles for suggestions.(March 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Bill Spiller | |
|---|---|
 Spiller at a tournament in the 1950s | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1913-10-25)October 25, 1913 Tishomingo, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | 1988 (aged 74–75) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Career | |
| College | Wiley College |
| Status | Professional |
Bill Spiller (October 25, 1913 – 1988) was an Americanprofessional golfer who helped break thecolor barrier in the sport.
Spiller was born inTishomingo, Oklahoma and moved toTulsa, Oklahoma with his father when he was nine years old. He grew up in a time of frequent racial violence, notably during theTulsa race massacre. He was an excellent athlete, becoming a two-sport star atBooker T. Washington High School. He later attendedWiley College, ahistorically black college inMarshall,Texas and earned an education degree.[1]
He did not start playing golf until he was around 30 years old. He moved toSouthern California to work as a teacher but also had to take an additional job as a railroad porter. He was introduced to competitive golf by another porter inLos Angeles, and he began to participate and win in amateur golf tournaments for black players in the 1940s.[2]
In 1948, Spiller faced discrimination when he was barred from entering the Richmond Open golf tournament inRichmond, California, due to theProfessional Golfers' Association (PGA)'s segregation policy of excluding non-white players.[3]
Spiller and another golfer,Ted Rhodes, sued the PGA for violating theTaft-Hartley Act, which prohibited discrimination in labor unions. After the PGA pledged to stop its discriminatory practices, the lawsuit was withdrawn. However, the PGA persisted in organizing "invitational tournaments" that still barredAfrican-American players from participating.[3]
In 1952, PGA presidentHorton Smith excluded Spiller and boxerJoe Louis from theSan Diego Open,[2][4] which caused a national outcry and legal threats. The PGA again promised to change, but it kept the segregation clause. In 1960,Stanley Mosk, theattorney general of California, intervened and warned the PGA that it would be barred from using public golf courses unless it ceased its discriminatory policies. Consequently, in November 1961, the PGA consented to eliminate the segregation clause.[3]
However, Spiller’s golf career had already suffered, as he had taken up golf relatively late in life and retired before the segregation clause was removed.
Spiller died in 1988 at the age of 75, one year after suffering a fall in his bathtub. In his final years, he also had a stroke and showed signs of dementia.[3]
In 2009, thePGA of America granted posthumous membership to Spiller, Rhodes, andJohn Shippen, and also honoredLouis with posthumous honorary membership.[5] He was named to the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.[1][6]