Crow, a former 2005 U.S. Open volunteer chair, will work directly with Pinehurst Championship Management to oversee one of the world's most prestigious amateur competitions, last held at Pinehurst in 1962.

It returns to the resort Aug. 18-24, 2008.

Crow has some remarkable memories of his four decades of volunteering for golf tournaments. In 1999, he was the walking scorer for the final group in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 -- a twosome that included Phil Mickelson and Payne Stewart.

"What a highlight of my life being 10-15 yards from those two guys for 18 holes," Crow said.

Crow, 71, coordinated over 5,400 volunteers when the Open returned to Pinehurst last year. But he never expected the assignment he recently received from Donald Padgett, Pinehurst president, in naming him general chairman of the 2008 U.S. Amateur.

"I was shocked, I was surprised and I turned to Don and said, 'Yes, I'll do it,"' said Crow, who first started volunteering for golf tournaments in Greensboro in 1962. "I am going to be very involved in all of it."

Crow has been involved with just about every tournament at Pinehurst since moving to the village with his wife, Martha, in 1999. And he's very familiar with amateur golf. Crow has been the volunteer chairman for the prestigious North and South Men's Amateur Tournament at Pinehurst since 2000.

"We're tremendously excited about hosting the U.S. Amateur in two years, and I can't think of a better qualified person to head up the organization of it than Ron Crow," Padgett said. "Ron's experience, knowledge and leadership have been invaluable to Pinehurst over the last seven years."

Pinehurst has a long history of hosting top-flight amateur events and United States Golf Association championships, including the 1962 U.S. Amateur that was won by Labron Harris on famed Pinehurst No. 2.

"I've learned so much working with the North and South Championships and seen first-hand the amount of golf talent that is available. It's unlimited," Crow said. "This country is loaded with top amateur players right now."

Qualifying rounds for the 2008 U.S. Amateur will be held on Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4, with match play the rest of the week on the famed No. 2 course.

"The No. 4 course was rebuilt in 1999 by Tom Fazio and is a real challenge," Crow said. "The amateurs are going to play it as a par 70, so it's going to be very long. And of course, No. 2 is a classic and speaks for itself."

The North and South Men's Amateur Championship was played on both courses this year as a dry run for the 2008 U.S. Amateur.

"We want to make sure everything works OK and see if there are any kinks we need to iron out," Crow said.

Crow was one of four vice-chairs for the 2001 U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles, and will again be vice-chair when the championship returns to the Southern Pines course in 2007.

"I know the 2008 U.S. Amateur will be another in a long line of successful USGA championships because of Ron Crow's passion for the game and his love for Pinehurst," Padgett said. "The championship is in good hands."