Hall of Fame
Leonard Pettiford, a 1966 Malone graduate (Social Sciences), was a four-year member of the Pioneer men's golf team and is the 2019 recipient of The Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award. A graduate of McKeesport High School in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Pettiford went on to earn a Master's degree in Social Work from Howard University.
Pettiford joined the Pioneer golf program during the program's second season of existence in 1963 and was a key member of the team throughout his four years at Malone.
As a junior in 1965, Pettiford compiled a scoring average of 80, second-best on the team, and helped lead the Pioneers to a fifth-place finish at the NAIA District Tournament.
Then as a senior in 1966, he earned Malone's Low Average Medal Award after improving his scoring average to 79.3. Pettiford carded a team-best round of 78 at the NAIA Districts that season and was named to the Mid-Ohio All-Conference Team.
In addition to battling challenging golf courses, Pettiford also helped break racial barriers. During the 1966 season, the Pioneers were scheduled to compete in a match in Southern Ohio and upon arrival, Pettiford, an African-American, was told by the golf pro that he would not be permitted to play on the "white-only" course. Fred Thomas, a Malone history professor and the head coach of the Malone golf team at the time, vowed to forfeit the match unless Pettiford was allowed to participate. The coaches from the other two teams who were scheduled to compete in the match fully supported the position. Soon after, the golf pro returned and gave permission for Pettiford to play, allowing the three teams to complete their match.
Following his time at Malone, Pettiford went on to complete a lengthy career in public service. He retired from the Department of Labor in 2008 where he worked as the Director of Administrative Services. Pettiford is married to Belva Burney and resides in Silver Springs, Maryland. Pettiford has a son, Len Pettiford Jr., and two grandchildren.
