U.S. Census Bureau Black History Month Feature for Feb. 7

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily Black History Month feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7: DR. GEORGE GRANT

Profile America for the seventh day of Black History Month. Each time a golfer gets ready for a drive off the tee, he should say thanks to a little-known inventor. Dr. George Grant was one of the first African-American dentists and also one of the first of his race to play golf. Grant was tired of the method of teeing up in the 1890s — pinching some damp sand into a little launching pad. It was messy and inconsistent. So, using his dental skills, he fashioned the first golf tee, for which he received a patent. Grant's tee was a small wooden peg with a concave piece of rubber on top.

Today, every one of the nation's more than 24 million golfers use tees every time they play. This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau, conducting the 2010 Census beginning April 1st.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB10-FF.01

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1209

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau