The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame (HOF) was founded in 1957 by the Phoenix Press Box Association. The Association held 36 induction ceremonies before ceasing operations in 1991. In the years that followed, the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission assumed custodianship of the Hall of Fame, including developing a plan in the mid-90s to find the Hall a permanent home.
The Sports Commission partnered with the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce to launch an Arizona Sports Awards luncheon in December 1999 at the Civic Center. The Hall of Fame was a key piece to that event. In January 2001 another luncheon event was held, and in 2002 a cocktail function took place at the Herberger Theater where Jerry Colangelo and Curly Culp were inducted. The Hall of Fame was dormant from 2002 to 2009.
In early 2008, the Sports Commission began planning a re-launch of the Hall of Fame. On April 16, 2009 the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame was revitalized with an induction ceremony at The Phoenician. Over 300 people were on hand to honor four inductees including Al McCoy, Darren Woodson, Linda Vollstedt, and Bob Horner.
Today, the Hall of Fame ceremony stands as the sole annual fundraiser for the Sports Commission each year. Funds raised will support the Sports Commission’s mission to “enhance our community through sports.” This includes attracting sporting events to the Valley of the Sun, promoting the existing events and sports teams in Greater Phoenix, and to support youth sports programs in the region.
The 40th induction ceremony of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame is slated for April 8, 2010.
Past Inductees
Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
(As of April 2009 – 39 induction ceremonies, 69 members)
| 1957 | Lewis Tewanima | Hopi Indian, 1912 Olympic silver medalist | ||
| 1958 | J.F. “Pop” McKale | University of Arizona coach and athletic director | ||
| Jess Mortenson | Thatcher, AZ, track star, long-time USC coach | |||
| 1959 | Art Nehf Sr. | Major-league pitcher | ||
| 1960 | Thornton Lee | Major-league pitcher | ||
| Robbie Robinson | Phoenix Union High School football coach | |||
| 1961 | Dr. Charles Borah | First Arizonan to win Olympic gold, 1928 | ||
| 1962 | Earl Grace | Major-league catcher | ||
| 1963 | Hank Lieber | Phoenix Union/UofA major-league star outfielder | ||
| 1964 | Jimmy Bryan | First Arizonan to win Indianapolis 500 | ||
| Joseph Lancer Sr. | Owner of minor-league Phoenix Senators | |||
| 1965 | Vic Housholder | Legendary sports official, umpire | ||
| E. Earl Pomeroy | Mesa High School, BYU athletic great | |||
| 1966 | George Hoy | Phoenix College coach, athletic director | ||
| Rudy Lavik | Arizona State University athlete and coach | |||
| 1967 | Milt Coggins | Amateur golfer and golf instructor to thousands | ||
| 1968 | C.W. “Doc” Pardee | Legendary Thoroughbred horse trainer | ||
| Wilford “Whizzer” White | Mesa H.S./ASU star running back | |||
| 1969 | Fred Enke Sr. | University of Arizona basketball coach | ||
| 1970 | Miles W. Casteel | Arizona State University athletic director | ||
| 1971 | Bobby Ball | Arizona auto racing pioneer | ||
| Edgar “Mutt” Ford | Long-time football coach at Mesa High School | |||
| 1972 | Dallas Long | North-Phoenix H.S. Olympic shot put winner | ||
| Frank Sancet | University of Arizona baseball coach | |||
| 1973 | Joe Famulatte | Long-time Phoenix Indian School all-sports coach | ||
| 1974 | Clyde B. Smith | Arizona State University athletic director | ||
| 1975 | Bob Housholder | Legendary softball player, big-game hunter | ||
| Warren Livingston | Mesa H.S., UofA, Dallas Cowboys Football Player | |||
| Dot Wilkinson | Softball legend, international bowling champ | |||
| 1976 | Patsy Willard | Olympic diving medalist from Mesa | ||
| 1977 | Fred Enke Jr. | UofA, Washington Redskins football star | ||
| Bill Miller | Olympic javelin thrower | |||
| 1978 | Johnny Bulla | Professional Golf Association standout | ||
| Art Van Haren Sr. | Legendary baseball and softball umpire | |||
| 1979 | Shanty Hogan | UofA football, baseball star, long-time coach | ||
| 1980 | Clint Brawner | Legendary auto-racing mechanic | ||
| Roger McCluskey | USAC auto-racing start from Tucson | |||
| 1981 | Dick Van Arsdale | Phoenix Suns all-star guard | ||
| 1982 | Ed Doherty | Football coach at ASU, UofA, St. Mary’s H.S. | ||
| 1984 | Bob Goldwater Sr. | Golf Pioneer who helped found Phoenix Open | ||
| Karsten Solheim | Golf club manufacturer and golf benefactor | |||
| 1985 | Ned Wulk | Arizona State University basketball coach | ||
| 1986 | Ed Long | Phoenix Union High School basketball coach | ||
| 1987 | Kathy Gibbons | Olympic runner who made miraculous comeback | ||
| Jack Stewart | Founding father of Fiesta Bowl | |||
| Frank Gianelli | Sports Editor, Arizona Republic | |||
| Bob Allison | Sports Editor, Phoenix Gazette | |||
| 1988 | Alvan Adams | Phoenix Suns long-time center | ||
| Larry Walker | Fast-Pitch softball kingpin, founder of BCI | |||
| Dave Hicks | Columnist, Arizona Republic | |||
| 1989 | Frank Kush | Arizona State University football coach | ||
| John Riggle | Executive director of Arizona Golf Association | |||
| Abe Chanin | Sports Editor, Arizona Daily Star | |||
| George McLeod | Sports Editor, Tucson Daily Citizen | |||
| 1990 | Danny White | Westwood H.S., ASU, Dallas Quarterback | ||
| Dwight Patterson | Founding father of Cactus League | |||
| Bob Vache | Channel 12 sports anchor, Suns broadcaster | |||
| 1991 | Al Van Hazel | Casa Grande High School football, track coach | ||
| Gov. Rose Mofford | Softball star, Cactus League backer as governor | |||
| Ben Avery | Outdoors columnist, Arizona Republic | |||
| 1999 | Herman Frazier | ASU Olympic gold medal track star | ||
| 2001 | Jim Brock | Arizona State University baseball coach | ||
| Charles Hickox | Olympic gold medal swimming star | |||
| 2002 | Jerry Colangelo | Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks executive | ||
| Curley Culp | Yuma H.S., ASU football player, wrestler | |||
| 2009 | Al McCoy | Phoenix Suns | ||
| Linda Vollstedt | Arizona State Golf Coach | |||
| Bob Horner | Arizona State, Major League Baseball player | |||
| Darren Woodson | Arizona State, Dallas Cowboys | |||
