Updated Sept. 10: Here is an article from the Calgary Sun on Neumann's retirement:
U of C sports icon retires, by Randy Sportak, calgarysun.com
Watch the on-demand video of the Sept. 6 retirement dinner/ceremony:
http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/calgary.portal?mode=link&eventId=68429&broadcastType=video
photo courtesy of Calgary Sun
Sept. 10, 2012
Press release courtesy of University of Calgary Athletics
CALGARY – The legendary career of longtime University of Calgary sports information director Jack Neumann was celebrated last Thursday night with a gala dinner in the Jack Simpson Gym.
With 300 friends, student-athletes, coaches, and colleagues in attendance, Neumann’s 34-year career at the UofC was recounted and feted, all while raising $50,000 for an endowment in his name. The Jack Neumann Sports Information Endowment will fund part-time student assistants in the Dinos communications office, professional development opportunities, as well as scholarships for student-athletes.
The event was hosted by football alumnus Tony Spoletini and included speeches by representatives of various constituent groups from Jack’s career. Longtime CFCN sports anchor Ken Newans represented the media, while the Dinos’ all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball, Leighann (Doan) Reimer, spoke on behalf of the student-athletes Jack worked with during his career. Four-time Vanier Cup-winning football coach Peter Connellan represented the coaches, and Neumann’s longtime friend Dave King, currently an assistant coach with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, also delivered an address.
Dr. Dennis Kadatz, the athletic director who hired Jack in 1978, served as honorary chair for the event, while university president Dr. Elizabeth Cannon presented Jack with his retirement gift.
The evening concluded with the surprise announcement that Neumann would be inducted into the University of Calgary’s Athletics Hall of Fame in the builder category as the only member of the Class of 2012, in recognition of his extraordinary 34-year career. Neumann was presented with his Hall of Fame plaque and commemorative print by current athletic director Ron Wuotila as well as Dr. Roger Jackson, the former Dean of Physical Education at the University of Calgary.
“My inclusion in the Hall of Fame is something I will cherish forever,” said an emotional Neumann. “To be in the Hall with colleagues, coaches, and the student-athletes that are currently there is just starting to sink in.
“The event was a fabulous evening, and I thank everyone who had a part in putting it together. Having it in the Jack Simpson Gym was especially poignant for me – I was part of the committee that helped the design the media facilities there, I experienced many wins and losses in that venue, and I received the Order of the University there as well.”
Neumann was hired as the Dinos’ Sports Information Director in 1978, beginning a nearly 35-year odyssey that entrenched him as a legendary figure in the University of Calgary’s history. Throughout his career, Jack worked tirelessly to build the profile of Dinos student-athletes and their accomplishments, and was always one to shy away from accolades of his own – but there were plenty of those as well.
The first Canadian to serve on the Board and be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), he won several association awards and singlehandedly brought its annual convention to Calgary in 2004. Jack received the Order of the University of Calgary in 2005 and was inducted to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
After 29 years as sports information director, Neumann moved to the position of alumni development coordinator in 2007. In five years in that role, he helped raise more than $1 million in scholarships for Dinos student-athletes.
Jack retired from the University of Calgary effective June 30, 2012.
Sept. 4, 2012: Original press release - courtesy of the University of Calgary
On Thursday, Sept. 6, CoSIDA Hall of Famer and long-time advocate of the athletic communications profession Jack Neumann will be honored at the "Jack Neumann Retirement Celebration" taking place at the University of Calgary's Jack Simpson Gymnasium. Following a social hour, the dinner and ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Mountain Time (8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m Central/6 p.m. Pacific).
The event will be streamed live on Canada West TV. It can be viewed from the main portal at
CanadaWest.TV.
It will be available for on-demand viewing following the event at this link:
http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/calgary.portal?mode=link&eventId=68429&broadcastType=video
At the 2012 CoSIDA St. Louis Convention in June, the former long-time SID at the University of Calgary became the first Canadian to earn the elite Warren Berg Award which is presented annually to a college division CoSIDA member for outstanding contributions to the profession. Read more about Neumann and his Berg Award
HERE.
To honor Neumann for his distinguished career and contributions to the university, the University of Calgary has established the
Jack Neumann Sports Information Endowment Fund.
Here is more information from the University of Calgary on the endowment:
Proceeds from the JACK NEUMANN SPORTS INFORMATION ENDOWMENT; in perpetuity, will go to support:
• The salary of a University of Calgary student assistant in the office of the Sports Information Director
• Professional Development of SID to attend the annual CoSIDA Convention during the NACDA & Affiliates Convention each summer
• Jack Neumann Athletics Awards
Jack’s contributions to University of Calgary, Dinos Athletics, the student-athletes and the alumni are vast. To touch on a few: he has helped bring national and international prominence to the university through his work as SID; he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in athletics awards through his work on the Dinos Today...Leaders Tomorrow program; he has launched careers for student-athletes by opening doors upon their graduation; and he has helped the alumni raise thousands more dollars on their various fundraising endeavour.