Phoenix Press Box Association.

The Phoenix Press Box Association was founded in 1949 as a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of sports at all levels and sports journalism in Arizona high schools. The activities of the Press Box included awarding scholarships to journalist students entering college and fundraisers for these scholarships. The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University still maintains a Phoenix Press Box Association Scholarship for graduate level students. The Press Box also sponsored sports luncheons to promote sports achievement and to facilitate talks at the high school, college, and professional levels for athletes and coaches. Special guests were often invited to these luncheons.

The Press Box hosted an annual Sports Awards Dinner for Coach, High School Athlete, Professional Athlete and College Coach of the Year. Special awards were also given for sports journalism. The Press Box brought in professional athletes, notable celebrities and entertainers to be key note speakers. The Press Box also hosted sports venues such as the Harlem Globetrotters to promote sports in Arizona.

The Press Box created the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 1957. The inductees into the Hall of Fame are athletes from Arizona who made an impact on the world of sports such as Lewis Tewanima, member of the Hopi Nation and two time Olympic Track and Field star and Jack Stewart founder of the Fiesta Bowl.

In 1990, the Phoenix Press Box began to look for others to take over the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and the Sports Award Dinner as interest in the organization waned. By 1996 all business had been suspended except for obligations pertaining to scholarships. The organization was formally dissolved in 1999.

The Phoenix Press Box, for a short time collaborated with the Maricopa County Sports Authority for the sponsorship of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and the Sports Award Dinners. In 2007 the Maricopa County Sports Authority changed its name to the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission, which currently sponsors the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. www.phoenixsports.org>.

From the description of Phoenix Press Box Association collection, 1949-1997. (Scottsdale Public Library). WorldCat record id: 24166680