Joe Mitch

Thankful and honored to have served for 39 years

By JOE MITCH
USBWA Executive Director
mitch@usbwa.com

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As I write my final Tipoff column winding down on a 39-year career with the USBWA, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve this great organization for so long.

I was an assistant commissioner for media relations with the old Metro Conference, writing news releases and editing a weekly newspaper for the league, when the USBWA asked me in 1980 to edit The Tipoff. Three years later I was named executive director.

I feared that one day I'd get a call telling me they found a sportswriter to be executive director.

Fortunately, I never got the call.

I have so many people to thank who have helped me along the way. At the top of the list are the presidents who provided the leadership necessary for the organization to grow. Early on, presidents such as Dave Dorr, Bob Hammel, Bill Brill, Larry Donald, Frank Boggs, Gordon White and Steve Guback were there with advice and encouragement.

I want to thank two people I worked with the most – John Akers and Ted Gangi. John serves as editor of The Tipoff and has been a valuable adviser. Ted is our webmaster and provides a host of other services that often go unnoticed.

Joe Mitch receives the Cliff Wells Award from the NABC's Jim Haney

I would be remiss if I didn't thank Mel Greenberg for his good work as coordinator of the USBWA women's program. Mel is respected nationally for what he has done promoting women's basketball.

Another person to thank is Dave Worlock, the NCAA's director of media coordination for the men's tournament. Dave is a friend of the USBWA and has helped us in so many ways through the years, especially serving as a liaison to the men's basketball committee.

And finally, I want to thank the past presidents, officers and board members for their generous gifts and emails congratulating me on my retirement. I cannot adequately express to you my sincere thanks and appreciation.

Very early in my career I learned the USBWA's first responsibility is to its members. The USBWA can be especially effective helping writers deal with such core issues as seating for the media at games and access to players and coaches.

This is the kind of service writers have come to expect from the USBWA. Members can count on the USBWA being an advocate for them.

Malcolm Moran will assume my duties as executive director on June 1. Malcolm's a perfect person for the job – a former sportswriter who's worked at several major newspapers such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and USA Today. He also knows the inner workings of the USBWA, having served as president in 1988-89.

I'll miss the USBWA. It has been a major part of my life for nearly four decades.

Thank you USBWA for 39 wonderful years.