LOUISVILLE, KY (October 9, 2020) – The Kentucky Golf Foundation has selected Bill Coomer and D’Shawn Johnson as the 2020 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award. This award is bestowed by the Kentucky Golf Foundation’s Board of Directors for significant contributions to the betterment of golf in Kentucky.

Coomer’s pending retirement from Golf House Kentucky was announced last month. He has served as the Director of Amateur-Professional Competitions with the organization since 1995 and will conclude his tenure in the spring of 2021. He has worked more than 2,500 golf tournaments sanctioned by Golf House Kentucky and has also served as a rules official in national tournaments overseen by the PGA of America and USGA.

“Bill is the glue that keeps our events going,” stated Jim Thompson, Vice President of the Kentucky Golf Association in his nomination letter. “When you see Bill at a tournament, he is always working on the existing tournament but somehow looking ahead to what is coming tomorrow as well. He will truly be missed by this family of organizations.”

D’Shawn Johnson is the Executive Director at The First Tee of Louisville. After originally serving as a police officer with Louisville Metro, Johnson suffered a disabling injury which prevented him from continuing his service as an officer. Afterwards, a doctor prescribed golf as a means of physical and mental therapy for Johnson which sent him into an obsession with the game. The love for golf propelled him into an opportunity with the Louisville Urban League where he specialized in youth development. With its close relationship to The First Tee of Louisville, that bridged the path for Johnson to take his eventual position as Executive Director.

“I have had the privilege of working with many great individuals throughout my career, but I can say none are as deserving of such an award as D’Shawn Johnson,” exclaimed Craig Heibert, PGA President of the Kentucky Section. “His work with The First Tee continues to lay the groundwork for the next generation of golfers in Kentucky. When he started, the program had one location with about 75 participants. During his tenure, the program has grown to seven locations serving over 600 participants at the various golf course locations, with another 15,000 participants in their in-school outreach program that partners with Jefferson County Public Schools.”

The Kentucky Golf Foundation, Kentucky Golf Association and Kentucky PGA Section congratulate Coomer and Johnson on these well-deserved honors and thank them for their service to golfers in Kentucky.