Phoenix, AZ (November 20, 2008) – The Phoenix Regional Sports Commission announced today the official re-launch of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame has been dormant since 2002, the last time the Sports Commission and the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce partnered on the recognition event.
Originally founded in 1957 by the Phoenix Press Box Association, the Hall of Fame currently has 65 members. Lewis Tewanima, a 1912 Olympic Silver Medalist in Stockholm, was the first inductee. Work began last year to re-vitalize not only the annual induction ceremony, but the physical Hall of Fame itself, which has been housed at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
A committee of community leaders has been formed to reestablish the Hall of Fame. The committee includes the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, APS, the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals and past leaders of the Phoenix Press Box Association. Plans for the 39th induction ceremony scheduled for spring 2009 are ongoing. A public nomination process for future induction will be announced in the coming weeks.
Sports Commission President Jon Schmieder commented on the energy surrounding the project, “The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame is a treasure we cannot let sit dormant any longer. The community leaders we have reached out to are passionate about our state’s sports heritage and about continuing the recognition events the Press Box Association started more than 50 years ago.”
Past inductees include coaching legends J.F. “Pop” McKale, Frank Kush, Jim Brock and Ed Doherty. Enshrined athletes include Johnny Bulla, Dot Wilkinson, Danny White, Alvan Adams and Curly Culp. Sports visionaries such as Karsten Solheim and Jerry Colangelo also are members of the Hall of Fame.
Arizona Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall, and APS Community Relations Manager Cindy Slick are Co-Chairs of the 2009 event. Hall commented on his vision for the Hall of Fame, “I enthusiastically agree with the decision to revive the Hall of Fame. I am certainly biased on this subject, but I believe we have the finest city in America for sports. With that rich and celebrated sports history, we should continue honoring and recognizing those who contributed to this proud platform.”
The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame is a primary focus of the Sports Commission within the mission to “Enrich Our Community Through Sports.” A portion of the proceeds raised through the Hall of Fame ceremony will be used to promote and support sports programs in Maricopa County.
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A 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission (PRSC) was created in 1988. The mission of the PRSC is to “Enrich Our Community Through Sports” by representing the citizens of the Valley to bring national and international sporting events to the state, assist in the promotion of existing events and teams, and support youth sports programs. To learn more about the Sports Commission, please visit www.phxsports.org.
For more information contact:
Jon Schmieder, PRSC President, 602.258.6272 or jon@phxsports.org
Ken Reinstein, blue 22 pr, 480-634-4188 or ken@blue22pr.com
