A Tribute to a Great Chairman

Paula and Jim Callaway stand next to a plaque that commemorates his contributions to sports in San Antonio. The plaque will be installed at Wolff Stadium.

On December 14, the San Antonio Sports Foundation honored Jim Callaway, our departing chairman, with a tribute during its December board meeting.

Jim has been our fearless leader since 2001, and I tried to sum up his accomplishments and our feelings of gratitude in a little poem that I’ll share with you here.

It started in 2001 when all through the offices
There was about to appear,
A new chairman, a new boss…
The leader would be here.

Staff was all in tow in our conference room not,
McCullough Street was the address of the lot.
Our budget about a million then.
This is the story of the growth there has been.

Derek Anderson was the spokesperson
Attendance was your best shot.
Unfortunately we did not do as well.
Most of our celebrities, their stay was not.

Events started and events stayed for the group
Success followed him as he stayed in the loop.
Like Roundball Ruckus, Champions lunch, and Go!Kids.
Events, activities and even bids.

We raised money, and it was lots
For the events and all of our tots.
We also got a new home
And called it affectionately the Dome.

He was our spokesperson like it or not,
Hall of Fame, press conferences and the lot.
He was our star again and again,
Mary never had to worry about his grin.

We discovered a game we did not like much.
It was international in scope but ate our lunch.
We were much more than the Games,
And have many more events in our aims.

It rained and rained for our Olympic Torch Run,
He was powerful but did not produce the sun.
We got money finally from the state kitty,
And more financial stability, thanks to relationships with the City.

He outlived four USOC presidents due to his honor and power,
He was center court and even on press row during NCAA hour.
The staff is so grateful for his courage and calm way,
He gave us compliments and encouragement every day.

Jim, you will be missed from your phone calls to see how we were doing,
But also because Leslie and your staff would help do the wooing.
Thanks for a great four years and more,
Because we won’t let you find any door.

Thank you, Jim, and may all of you have a very happy holiday season!

Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

 Go!Kids Celebrate Accomplishments

More than 21,500 children and parents marked the end of the 10-week Sports Foundation Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ at the Subway Victory Lap Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 5 in the Alamodome. We estimate that 5,500 children received their finisher’s medals and t-shirts for completing the 26.2-mile walking program. Seeing the pride of achievement in their faces as they were awarded their medals was incredible!

Many thanks to Mayor Ed Garza, city councilman Richard Perez, the program’s honorary chairman Dr. Gabriel Magraner, all of our sponsors, Olympians Josh Davis, Liza Hunter-Galvan, Ross Davis and Casey Tibbs, WOAI radio’s Walter Pasacrita, many Sports Foundation board members, and all of the school officials who helped to make the event extra-special.

Children who were unable to attend the Subway Victory Lap Celebration received their Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ medals at school. Based on numbers provided by the schools, about 55,000 children from 18 San Antonio- area school districts completed the marathon walk.

To learn how you or your company can become involved in the program, visit www.gokidschallenge.org or call 210-820-2100.

Greigs Named Volunteers of the Year

Since the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival, Malcolm and Ethel Greig have been dedicated volunteers for the San Antonio Sports Foundation. At our December board meeting, Dr. David Schmidt presented the Greigs an award as the Leo & Chickie Rose 2004 San Antonio Sports Foundation Volunteers of the Year. This fun-loving couple has been involved with just about every event the Sports Foundation has been associated with. In 2004, the Greig’s have volunteered for more than 13 different events, not to mention the countless hours of administrative work they have done within the office. Loyalty, consistency and friendship, always served with a helping of humor, are just a few of the many positives Malcolm and Ethel bring with their hard-working services. Congratulations, Malcolm and Ethel, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

The Sports Foundation created the Volunteer of the Year award this year and named it for Leo and Chickie Rose, long-time supporters of our organization. The Sports Foundation thanks all of its more than 2,000 volunteers who share their time, talent and treasure to support our events and youth initiatives.

To learn more about becoming a Sports Foundation volunteer, click here or call 210-820-2191.

Golfers Tee Off For Kids

Clear Channel Radio team plays for a good cause. Left to right: Mark Olberding, Bill Rohde, Rocco Perciavalle, Stan Kelly.

Players in the Sports Foundation’s 2004 SBC Golf Classic on Monday, December 13, enjoyed a sunny, if blustery day at the Dominion Country Club. Rescheduled after rain washed out the original date of November 15, the tournament was a great success. Coca-Cola took first place with the team of Carlos Ramos, Todd Anderson, David Sauceda and Jesse Olivares, who won an opportunity to participate in the 2005 SBC Championship Pro-Am. Capstone Corporation won second place and Frost Bank took third. Bo Wagner won the closest-to-the-pin contest and Bob King hit the longest drive.

Our thanks to SBC, Whataburger, Coca-Cola, Subway, Cox Smith Matthews and all of the tournament sponsors. We also thank the businesses who donated terrific raffle prizes. Proceeds from the event will support the Sports Foundation’s youth initiatives, including Dreams for Youth.

Need some good ideas for Christmas gifts? We have just the ticket(s)!

The US Army All-American Bowl is an East-West match up featuring the top high school football players across the nation. Adrian Peterson was the star of last year's game.

Tickets are $12.00 for general admission and $25.00 for reserved. Tickets are available through the Rotary office at face value. No extra handling fees included. The Rotary Club will receive half the money it collects on tickets sold through our office. The money raised will be used to fund our club's educational charities. To purchase tickets through the Rotary office, call 210-222-8242, x101. The tickets can be picked up from
our office at 710 McCullough.

Schedule of Events
Friday, January 14:
3 - 6 pm US Army Band Competition at the Alamodome featuring top high school
bands - open to the public and free to all
5 - 6 pm River Parade and River Rally at the Arneson Theater - open to the
public and free to all

Game Day on Saturday, January 15:
US Army Fan Fiesta at Sunset Station opens at 9am, closes at noon for the
game and reopens at 3:30 - 6:30 pm. This is free to all.
11:15 am - pre-game ceremony - "Celebrating the Americn Soldier"
12 pm - Game at the Alamodome - telecast live on NBC
4 pm - Post-game concert with country star Darryl Worley whose hits include
"Do you Remember" and "I Miss my Friend"

The half time entertainment will be the Grammy-nominated Los Lonely Boys.

2005 Sports Hall of Fame

Tickets for the 2005 San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame are now on sale. Just click here or call 210-820-2100 to reserve your table today.

See the floor of the Alamodome transformed into a spectacular ballroom on Thursday night, February 10, as we honor the newest inductees of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. Olympians Ross Davis, Stacey Johnson and Reuben Reina, football greats Gabe Rivera and Coach Jim Wacker, and golf pro Bill Rogers will be formally inducted. The San Antonio Express-News Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year will also be recognized. It’s an inspiring evening and features the best silent auction in town – especially for sports fans! Learn more about the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame at here.



Great Gift for Volleyball Fans

The Sports Foundation, UTSA and the Alamodome will host the 2005 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship next December 15 and 17. Get the volleyball fans in your life their own contributor packages today. Visit www.saloc.org to purchase packages or individual tickets and learn how you can get involved in the fun of the college volleyball championship.

The 2004 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship is taking place this week in Long Beach, California. Get a preview of the next year’s excitement by watching this year’s competition on ESPN2 TV.

Spurs, Harleys & Kids

If you are still doing your holiday shopping, consider supporting the Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth program by buying your loved ones tickets to the Spurs v. Jazz NBA game on Sunday, March 6, 2005! It’s a special “For the Love of Kids and Harleys” event featuring hundreds of Harley-Davidson bikes on display. Proceeds from ticket sales support the five charities from the For the Love of Kids and Harleys gala.

Reserve your seats today! Tickets may be purchased for $25.35 or $37.35 and include a FREE hot dog, soda and ice cream! Call the Sports Foundation at (210) 820-2100 to order.

Dean Aitken; James Ardoin; Allen Cornell; Liz Fritz; Mr. & Mrs. William Hanson; Karen Jennings; Jerry McVicker; Randy & Jane Moody; Caryn Moir; Chris Rice; Nelson Wolff; Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Corporate Champions

Presenting Champions

City of San Antonio; SBC Communications Inc.

$50,000

Creative Link; IKON Office Solutions; San Antonio Express-News

$20,000

Advantage Rent-A-Car; H-E-B Grocery Company; San Antonio Coca-Cola Bottling Co; San Antonio Spurs; Whataburger, Inc.

$10,000

Budget Car & Truck Rental; Cingular Wireless; Langley & Banack; Maverick Video Production; NuMedia: Oak Farms Dairy; Paladin IT Services; Methodist Children's Hospital; Spectrum Health Clubs; Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio, The Dominion Country Club

$5,000

George Becknell; Bender & Associates; BudCo., Inc.; The CE Group - Communication & Events; ChapmanSchewe Benefits Consulting; Comet Neon Advertising; Frost Bank; Humana; JP Morgan Chase; KPMG; Michael Imbimbo, Inc.; Miner Corporation; The Plaza Club; Nathaniel Sanderson, M.D.; Security Service Federal Credit Union; Soccer Sports Complex; Sterling Foods, Inc.; Jon Turner; Zachry Hospitality, Inc.

$2,500

Bank of America; Broadway Bank; Carneiro, Chummney & Co.; C.C. Creations; Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated; Ernst & Young; Host/Chelsea Joint Venture of San Antonio; IntelliSolve Group, Inc.; Dr. Susan Marenda-King; Catering by Don Strange; Dublin & Associates; Fintan Technologies; Flowers Bakeries; Fulbright & Jaworski; GLI Distributing.; Initial Security; Marriott Plaza San Antonio; Marriott Rivercenter/Riverwalk; Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers, Inc.; SpawGlass Contractors, Inc.; Sterling Bank; Walton Signage; Yantis Company

Grants/Foundations

Bexar County Health & Human Services CDBG; Bexar County Women's Bar Foundation; Brown Foundation; Charity Ball Foundation; Coleman Foundation; Criminal Justice Division JJDP Grant; Criminal Justice Division Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant; Light Foundation; David & Betty Sachs Foundation; Smith Barney; Women’s Sports Foundation

Founding Sponsors

City of San Antonio; H-E-B; USAA Foundation, A Charitable Trust; Valero Energy Corporation