Phoenix (January 8, 2009) – The Phoenix Regional Sports Commission announced at a reception today the 2009 inductees for the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. The honorees include Phoenix Suns broadcaster Al McCoy, former Arizona State Golf Coach Linda Vollstedt, and former ASU and Major League Baseball player Bob Horner. A fourth and final inductee will be named in March, along with the site for the ceremony and ticket information for the general public.
Originally founded in 1957 by the Phoenix Press Box Association, the Hall of Fame membership will grow to 69 people with the induction of the four new honorees this year. Lewis Tewanima, a 1912 Olympic Silver Medalist in Stockholm, was the first inductee. 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. 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 2009 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. The 39th induction ceremony is scheduled for April 16th.
“This group of Hall of Famers is truly special,” said Sports Commission President Jon Schmieder. “Our goal is to recognize the contributions in sport that are truly reflective of the state of Arizona. Al McCoy, Linda Volstedt and Bob Horner represent our state’s sports history and will truly enhance the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.”
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 the announcement, “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
