Lloyd Ward of Newton, Iowa, the latest black member of the Augusta National Golf Club and the CEO of Maytag Corp., plans to make his first visit to the club on Sunday for the final round of the 64th Masters.
His secretary confirmed that Ward, who has been traveling on business all week, would be in Augusta Sunday.
The 51-year-old Ward, a native of Romulus, Mich., has not been available for comment.
An incoming member for the club's 1999-2000 season, Ward has not visited the club since he became a member, sources at the Augusta National said. The club is open from mid-October through late May.
Ward is the fourth black to be a member at the exclusive Augusta National, and the third on the current membership roll.
Ron Townsend was the first black to gain membership, in 1990. Bill Simms became a member in the mid-1990s, but resigned under fire in 1997. Kenneth Chenault became a member starting with the 1998-99 season.
There are more than 300 members at the Augusta National, all male.
When Ward was named CEO of Maytag on Aug., 12, he became only the second African-American to lead a large U.S. company. Ward joined Maytag, a manufacturer of home and commercial appliances, in 1996 as executive vice-president. Prior to that he had worked at PepsiCo Inc., Ford and Procter & Gamble.
In 1998 Ward was named one of Brandweek magazine's marketers of the year and was selected as one of the top 25 executives in 1998 by Business Week magazine.
In October, 1999, he received the Executive Leadership Council's Achievement Award. In January of this year, he received the TBS Trumpet Award.
Ward is on the board of directors for J.P. Morgan & Co., is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and the American Society of Corporate Executives.
He earned his B.S. degree at Michigan State, where he was the captain of the basketball team. His M.B.A. came from Xavier.
Club member to make first visit