12 November 2008

The United States Sports Academy was recognized by Alabama Gov. Bob Riley for its partnership with the Alabama Tourism Department in the award-winning Year of Alabama Arts campaign.

The Academy's Associate Dean for Academic Administration, Dr. Arthur Ogden; Academy Sports Sculptor of the Year Bruce Larsen of Fairhope, Ala.; and Kay Daughdrill of the Academy's Arts Committee attended a ceremony in Montgomery, Ala. 5 November to receive a special certificate from the governor. The Academy houses the American Sport Arts Museum and Archives, a public display that features the largest sport art collection in Alabama and arguably the largest in the world. Gov. Riley told the audience that everyone should visit the United States Sports Academy and see the art collection.

Riley earlier announced that the state Tourism Department had received the Travel Industry Association's (TIA) highest honor for its Year of Alabama Arts Campaign, as well as two other national competitions. The TIA's Discover America Marketing Award was presented at its "Odyssey" awards banquet in Portland, Ore. 28 October and was featured in the November issue of National Geographic Traveler. The 2007 promotion also won the National Council of State Tourism Directors' "Mercury" award for best state promotion and Travel Weekly's "Magellan" award for promotion of culture and the arts in the United States and Canada.

The purpose of the 15-month campaign was "to put a huge spotlight on the arts, everything from architecture to dance and in between," state tourism director Lee Sentell said. "We had involvement from more than 60 communities, which shows how important the arts are all over the state."