College Sports Information Directors of America

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• Red Wings Announce Walk of Fame Inductees
• Red Wings recognize 2022 Walk of Fame honorees

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by Eric McDowell – CSC Past President (2014-15)

In the past year, two legendary college sports communications retired, capping tremendous careers that totaled 78 years in the profession. 78! These two individuals had more than outstanding careers in common. They worked just seven miles apart from each other, in the community of Rochester, New York.

It may not be a short walk from Nazareth College to the University of Rochester. But for Joe Seil and Dennis O’Donnell, there will be a permanent “walk” for them at Innovative Field. The Rochester Red Wings noticed their work and honored them and other individuals with their unique program. The Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

Rochester’s sports legends were honored as the annual Innovative Field Walk of Fame ceremony was held before a game on September 4. The Red Wings celebrated by adding a brick to the Frontier Field Walk of Fame with the name of each inductee. The bricks were then placed in Innovative Field’s Walk of Fame alongside the names of the inductees from previous years.

“Dennis and Joe were very worthy selections for the 2022 class of the Innovative Field Walk of Fame for their many years of outstanding service to the University of Rochester and Nazareth College respectively,” noted Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason. “They both have done such an outstanding job over the years to promote the great stories of the student-athletes at both schools. They join an illustrious group of Rochester Sports Legends recognized here in the Walk of Fame.”

The Frontier Field Walk of Fame is a walkway within the stadium featuring the names of fans, players, management, and media spanning Rochester's sports history. The area is comprised of brick pavers, each displaying the name of a member of the Rochester Sports Walk of Fame, surrounded by bricks with names of fans and businesses who support the history of Rochester Sports. Dennis and Joe join two other athletics communications professionals from the Rochester area who were previously inducted, Roger Dykes (Rochester Institute of Technology) and Tony Wells (University of Rochester).

(Note: The field was renamed Innovative Field after the season.)

"The last few months leading up to my retirement have been truly overwhelming,” Seil said. “I have received so many warm wishes from so many wonderful people. It's difficult to summarize my career in a few simple sentences, but I can wholeheartedly say that I've enjoyed every minute of it. This particular Walk of Fame honor is especially gratifying when you take into account the list of honorees from years past such as Roger Dykes and Tony Wells. It's also extra special to be able to share this year's award with fellow retiree Dennis O'Donnell."

"Being chosen for the Walk of Fame is a terrific thing,” O’Donnell stated. “I have watched from afar over 34 years at Rochester as the Community sports leaders have come together to recognize the people who have made a difference on all levels - Olympians, pros, high school and college athletes, coaches, administrators, and those behind the scenes. Rochester Community Baseball and General Manager Dan Mason are to be commended for the effort they put in annually to applaud and salute these honorees."

O’Donnell spent 42 years in the profession, 34 at Rochester following eight years (two different stints) at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He was elected to the CoSIDA (now CSC) Hall of Fame in 2007 and was honored with the CoSIDA Warren Berg Award in 2010 and the Pete Nevins Award from EAST-COMM in 2019. O'Donnell served on the CoSIDA Board of Directors (2002-06). He served in a variety of roles within CoSIDA and currently is a member of the organization’s Special Awards Committee. Formerly, he was a member of the Workshop Program Committee (now Professional Development and Education Committee) and later served as vice-chair.

Seil worked in the Nazareth athletic department, serving as assistant athletic director since 2005, capping a 36-year career at the institution this past spring. A native of Rochester, Seil received a 25-year award from CoSIDA and the Charlie Wagner Award from the Rochester Press-Radio Club. He won numerous publication awards including “Best in the Nation” and the Fred S. Stabley CoSIDA Writing contest, including in 2013 for Historical Feature of the Year.

Both Dennis and Joe are recipients of EAST-COMM’s Irving T. Marsh Award, as Dennis received the honor in 2003 and Joe was the 2011 recipient. They worked together with other Rochester area college colleagues in hosting the 2002 CoSIDA Workshop plus EAST-COMM workshops in 1999 and 2011. EAST-COMM (Eastern Athletic Communications Association) was formerly known as ECAC-SIDA. Both individuals also received 25-Year Awards from CoSIDA.

Looking ahead to the 2023 CSC Convention in Orlando, Florida, Dennis and Joe are eligible for Lifetime Achievement Awards from the organization.

Dionne Warwick had a great hit with the song, “Walk on By.” But for fans of baseball who will catch a Red Wings game in the future, as well as college sports communicators, they won’t want to “walk on by” when it comes to the Walk of Fame at Frontier Field. They will stop and look and see the names of outstanding athletic communications professionals, including two who retired in 2022, who served their institutions and their profession with dedication and distinguished service.