Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Temple to celebrate 60 years of Al Shrier

PHILADELPHIA  – Temple University Athletics will celebrate 60 years of the most decorated sports information director in the history of intercollegiate athletics during its men’s basketball game against Penn on January 23, announced TU Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw.

“There is no more beloved figure in Temple University, or for that matter Philadelphia collegiate athletics than Al Shrier,” said Bradshaw.  “Al graduated from Temple in 1953 and never left, dedicating his life to promoting what is positive in college athletics and in particular Temple student-athletes and coaches.  He is the epitome of Temple Made.”

Commemorative document bags, a Shrier trademark, will be given out to the first 2,000 fans that attend the game.  There will also be a pregame reception honoring the iconic athletic administrator.

The longest active College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) member, Shrier received the organization’s Arch Ward Award, presented to the best SID on the nation, in 2010. It is one of many honors in his legendary career.  He is a member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame, the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

 The Philadelphia native was named the recipient of the 2009 Pete Nevins Award for Distinguished Achievement given annually by The Eastern College Athletics Conference-Sports Information Directors Association (ECAC-SIDA). He has also earned ECAC-SIDA’s Irving T. Marsh and Katha Quinn Awards.

He has also been honored by the Atlantic 10 Conference with its Bob Vetrone Media Award in 2009.

In 2004, in commemoration of 50 years of service, Temple gave away Al Shrier Bobblehead Dolls at a men’s basketball game, a rare tribute to an athletic administrator.  In 2010, to mark his 80th birthday, the University had an Al Shrier Roast, with Bill Cosby being one of the roasters.

Shrier is past president of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association and the Media Room at The Liacouras Center is named in his honor. He received the Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award from the Temple School of Communications.

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