The United States Golf Association has named St. Louisan
Stanford "Stan" Grossman as the 2012 recipient of the Joe Dey
Award.
Started in 1996, the award recognizes individuals for
meritorious service to the game as volunteers. The honor is named
for Joseph C. Dey Jr., who was executive director of the USGA from
1934 to 1969, and the first commissioner of the PGA Tour.
A fixture at regional golf events and USGA national
championships for nearly 30 years, Grossman, 79, will receive the
award at the USGA's annual meeting on Feb. 4 in Houston. Hearing
the news had a profound effect on him, at least initially.
"When I got the call ,I was on the golf course and the wind was
blowing so I wasn't sure what was happening," Grossman said. "I was
flabbergasted, but I hung up the phone and made a 20-foot putt for
par. And I didn't make another par the whole day.
"I had no idea it was coming. A bunch of friends of mine have
already won it, and it is an honor to be included in that
particular group. There was no way I was ever going to make it as a
player, but now at least my name will be at Golf House
forever."
Grossman has been involved with the USGA since 1982, when he was
appointed to the U.S. Junior Amateur Committee. A founding member
of Forest Hills Country Club in Chesterfield, he was a member of
the executive committee for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at
Boone Valley Golf Club in 2007.
As a veteran rules official, Grossman worked the U.S. Open and
U.S. Senior Open championships from 1996 to 2007. A member of the
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (MAGA) since its inception in
1992, he has conducted numerous qualifying events for the
association and the USGA.
