John Shields receives a Proclamation from IAA Director Glori Hyman at the 2016 IAA Graduation Breakfast.
Since 1991, the Institute of Applied Agriculture has awarded 113 Shields Memorial Scholarships totaling over $115,000 thanks to IAA alumnus R. John Shields, Jr. John, who completed his IAA course work in 1975, was honored as this year’s IAA’s Distinguished Alumni.
Coming from a golf family, John was destined for a career in golf course management. After his military service, John returned to Maryland and enrolled at the Institute of Applied Agriculture, where he was on the Honor Roll all four semesters and ranked second in his graduating class. In 1980 John began managing the Glenn Dale Golf Club which was also the first year of the Shields Memorial Golf Tournament. John became Owner/President in 1984.
Throughout his career, John has been a strong advocate for the golf management profession as a whole and spends a good deal of time in Annapolis introducing, supporting, and opposing legislation that affects golf courses in Maryland. In 1995, John founded the Maryland Golf Course Owners Association and throughout the 1990s John fought tirelessly for the rights of independent golf courses. Whether dealing with water use issues, assessment and taxation, or soil testing, John has advocated on behalf of golf courses. He feels it’s important for superintendents to pay attention to legislation because “it affects our bottom line and therefore the finances available to operate.” He encouraged the recent IAA graduates to become involved with the politics that surround their professions.
“We are grateful to John and the Shields family for supporting the IAA for the past 37 years," says IAA Turfgrass advisor Dr. Kevin Mathias, whose students have benefitted from the funds raised over the years.
“The funds raised not only support scholarships, but also provide financial support for our teams to travel to national competitions and conferences,” says Mathias. “We would not have been able to achieve the success that we have without John and the Shields families’ support.”
The IAA is proud to have John among its alumni.
