USGA video on Palmer [icon name="external-link" class="" unprefixed_class=""]
MIDLOTHIAN — Gib Palmer, President of the Virginia State Golf Association from 2014-15, will receive the United States Golf Association’s highest volunteer honor at the USGA Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., this weekend.
Palmer is the recipient of the 2018 USGA Joe Dey Award. Presented annually since 1996, the Joe Dey Award recognizes an individual’s meritorious service to the game as a volunteer. The award is named for the late Joseph C. Dey Jr., who served as USGA executive director from 1934-1969 before becoming the first commissioner of the PGA Tour.
Palmer, who lives in Midlothian and is a member at Salisbury Country Club, has served on the USGA’s Junior Championship Committee since 1996. During that time, he has serves as a Rules official at nearly 20 U.S. Junior Amateur Championships while also volunteering at numerous other USGA championships.
Palmer remains a member of the VSGA’s Board of Directors and was instrumental in the establishment of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame. Palmer also played a key role in the integration of the VSGA Women’s Division into the organization as a whole, and he was a driving force behind the building of a dedicated VSGA headquarters in Midlothian.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Joe Dey many years ago, and there is no one who better represented integrity, honesty and respect for the game,” Palmer said. “To be associated with his reputation is a tremendous honor and I’m incredibly thankful for this recognition.”
Palmer is the second VSGA past president to earn the Joe Dey Award [icon name="external-link" class="" unprefixed_class=""], joining Virginia Golf Hall of Famer Clyde Luther, who won the award in 2002.
In addition to Palmer’s honor, another VSGA past president will be honored with an Isaac B. Grainger Award this weekend. Lee Coble, who preceded Palmer as VSGA president from 2012-13, was one of many recognized with a Grainger Award, presented to volunteers who have provided 25 years of service to USGA.
Click here [icon name="external-link" class="" unprefixed_class=""] for a complete list of 2018 USGA Service Award winners, who will be honored at a gala dinner at the USGA Annual Meeting on Feb. 3.