Mr. Howard Bankhead

Par Excellence Youth Development

Howard, was introduced to golf by a good friend, Andre Harris. After a year of learning how to swing the golf club, he was challenged and encouraged to learn how to play golf. In 2002, upon grasping the full concept of golf and becoming knowledgeable of African Americans' historical barriers in the mainstream golfing world, Bankhead created the Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development program, so local kids would have the opportunity he never had.

Using his sports marketing skills, knowledge and passion for helping youth development, he was offered a contract with Huntsville City School, Camp Success Program, from 2002 to 2007. During that time, he introduced over 1,800 students from the ages of 7-12 to academics and life skills using golf as the context. They partnered with Huntsville City Schools, Madison City Schools, and Madison County Schools. Schools included Colonial (now Martin Luther King), Terry Heights (now Sonny Hereford), Lincoln (now closed), Madison County High; Highland Elementary; Ed White; Stone Middle; Hampton Cove Middle; Chaffee Elementary, and others.

Today, Bankhead operates two 501(c)(3) nonprofits, Huntsville's Tennessee Valley Jazz Society and Par Excellence Youth Development (PEYD). PEYD is a youth development organization with an emphasis on golf. Both organizations have a separate board of directors and volunteer staff.

He has met and worked with great golfers like Calvin Peete, Joe Louis Barrows, and Charlie Sifford through the golf programs and experiences.