Gene McClure of Atlanta, Ga., who has served on the USGA’s regional affairs committee for more than 15 years and has worked at many USGA, state and collegiate championships as a committee member, rules official and referee, has been named the recipient of the 2008 Joe Dey Award.

The award is named after the late Joseph C. Dey Jr., who served as USGA executive director for 35 years, from 1934-69, and was later the first commissioner of the PGA Tour.

"It’s overwhelming to think of this honor," said McClure. "Volunteering is important because it promotes the values of the game. The USGA staff and the Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA) are like a family to me. How do I say thank you to all those people I have worked with for a number of years?

From incoming USGA Executive Committee member Pat Kaufman: "He personifies the finest qualities of a USGA volunteer: supremely competent, unfailingly generous with his time and expertise."

After receiving his law degree from Emory, McClure joined Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta, where he met several influential people involved with the Georgia State Golf Association, including Steve Mona, then executive director, who asked him to become involved in conducting many of the association’s events.

"He has made an impact on a lot of people and in a lot of ways," said Mike Waldron, executive director of the GSGA. "When people get into a volunteer activity they obviously do it because they love it, but very few people can make an impact like Gene has."