photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America unveiled a new statue of Col. John Morley in front of their headquarters building on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America celebrated its 100th anniversary Thursday with the unveiling of a statue honoring its founder and first president as well as a new plaza at its Lawrence headquarters.

To celebrate the GCSAA’s significant milestone, many people filled the parking lot of the organization’s headquarters for the unveiling of the new statue of Col. John Morley. The statue is right next to a statue of Old Tom Morris – who is known as the “father of modern greenkeeping.”

“Morley has it right from the beginning,” Rhett Evans, CEO of the GCSAA said. “In his own words, ‘No life is or can be self-existent. We depend on each other.’ Those weren’t just words, they became who we are.

“They became our culture, and 100 years later, that’s why we are sitting in this parking lot,” Evans said. “Because the association has always been about people, and I’m hopeful it always will.”

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

At the beginning of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s 100th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2026, past presidents of the organization were recognized.

Thursday’s celebration also recognized the newly built GCSAA Centennial Plaza, which is right outside the front doors to the GCSAA office building at 1421 Research Park Drive.

The plaza includes names of “the people who brought us here, and leaves room for the people who will carry us forward,” Evans said.

The GCSAA is the professional association for the men and women who manage and maintain golf courses. The organization, which employs 90 people in Lawrence, provides education, information and representation to 21,000 members in more than 74 countries, according to a press release from the GCSAA.

The event also had 27 past presidents of the organization in attendance on Thursday, representing at least half a century of leadership. Palmer Maples, GCSAA’s oldest living past president, having served as GCSAA’s president in 1975, was also in attendance.

Paul Carter, the current president of the GCSAA, said Morley identified the cornerstones of GCSAA as “justice, brotherhood, and generous benevolence,” and wanted the organization to be one of character.

“Today’s GCSAA members are recognized as highly educated professionals and essential leaders who keep the game on course,” Carter said.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

There are two statues in front of the headquarters of the GCSAA, one of Old Tom Morris and the other of Col. John Morley.

In addition to morning’s dedication and celebration, the day followed with an optional golf scramble at championship-caliber courses in the Kansas City area as well as a reception and evening dinner scheduled at the Sheraton Hotel in Kansas City.

Emily Palmer, chief member services officer of the United States Golf Association, said the GCSAA and the USGA have a shared commitment to help courses improve playing conditions, use resources responsibly and protect the environment.

“We combine the power of cutting-edge research and technology with the hard-earned knowledge and expertise of golf course superintendents and their teams to create a positive, real-world impact on the game we love,” Palmer said.

Jim Croxton, CEO of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, said that while it pains him to say it, “the GCSAA is undoubtedly the leading association in greenkeeping around the world.”

Even though the organization landed in Lawrence in 1973, it was operating long before that. It was founded on September 13, 1926, by Morley and greenkeepers at the Sylvania Country Club in Toledo, Ohio. At the time, the organization was known as the National Association of Greenkeepers of America.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America unveiled a new statue of Col. John Morley in front of their headquarters building on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

A new statue of Col. John Morley is unveiled on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026 next to a statue of Old Tom Morris at the headquarters of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, 1421 Research Park Dr.

Originally, Kansas City was eyed to be the permanent home for the organization, but after GCSAA leadership made a trip to Lawrence’s Alvamar Golf Club – now the Jayhawk Club – they decided to come to Douglas County, the press release said. Alvamar was the first golf course in the world to be constructed with Zoysia fairways.

Alvamar’s superintendent at the time, Mel Anderson, put the GCSAA in touch with former KU basketball player and real estate developer Bob Billings, who owned more than 3,000 acres of western Lawrence and found a piece of ground to meet the association’s needs.

The GCSAA was housed in a building along the Alvamar golf course, and since 1991, it has remained in it’s current office building at Research Park Drive after outgrowing the previous space.

Mayor Brad Finkeldai said the city doesn’t take the GCSAA’s presence in Lawrence for granted.

“You are an important part of our community,” he told the crowd on Thursday. ” … I’ve been in town for 30 plus years, and the number of employees from GCSAA who I’ve met, who I’ve worked with, who I’ve served on local boards with, who have volunteered in our community, who have made a difference in this community, is so vitally important to us.”

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Rhett Evans, CEO of the GCSAA, speaks at the 100th anniversary event for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

Sen. Roger Marshall said golf courses can provide benefits beyond the sport itself, including giving community members places to spend time outdoors.

“Every course you keep gives families a place to go outside to walk, breathe fresh air and take a break for their physical and mental health,” Marshall said.

Rep. Tracey Mann said he was glad to see Morley join Morris as statues in front of the organization’s headquarters.

“Both men understood something that remains true today: great golf courses depend on dedicated professionals who understand the land and take pride in caring for it,” Mann said.

“Golf course superintendents are responsible for far more than what golfers see when they step onto the course,” Mann said. “They understand turf, water, soil, weather, pest management, equipment, conservation and countless other things. They’re responsible for managing both the course and the natural resources and ecosystems that surround it.”

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Many staff and donors are recognized outside of the GCSAA’s headquarters, 1421 Research Park Dr.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

At the beginning of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s 100th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2026, past presidents of the organization were recognized.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Many people gather for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s 100th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Many people gather for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s 100th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Paul Carter, president of the GCSAA, speaks at the 100th anniversary event for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

From left to right, Rep. Tracey Mann, CEO of the GCSAA Rhett Evans and Sen. Roger Marshall are pictured on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026 at the GCSAA’s 100th anniversary event.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Jim Croxton, CEO of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, speaks at the 100th anniversary event for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Emily Palmer, chief member services officer of the United States Golf Association, speaks at the 100th anniversary event for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Past presidents and the board of directors of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America stand next to the statues of Old Tom Morris and Col. John Morley on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Mayor Brad Finkeldai speaks at the 100th anniversary event for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.