PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville held its season-ending athletics banquet on Sunday afternoon at the East Kentucky Expo Center with more than 700 people in attendance.
Only two awards were handed out at the event. Bowler Brandy Hensley and football player Donovan Schwalbach were the recipients of the days' only awards, as Gov. Paul E. Patton presented the Charles B. Chrisman Athletics Leadership Awards.
Hensley's honor marks the second straight season a women's bowler has taken the honor.
The Chrisman Award was established in 2007 by his family. The award is presented in his memory and honors his life. The award is presented annually to a graduating male and female student-athlete who exemplify the love of sport, love of the university, and a love for the community. A monetary award is also included.
A longtime trustee of Pikeville College, Mr. Chrisman was the epitome of a servant leader. He was known for his tremendous faith and dedication to church, family and the college he and his grandmother attended. An advocate for students, he was generous with his time and treasure and believed in the power of education to change lives.
The speaker at this year's ceremony was Jim Host. The CEO of Host Communications and iHigh.com Chairman and CEO, Host implemented the first collegiate corporate sports marketing program for the NCAA, was one of 10 individuals named to the 2012 class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Host, a University of Kentucky graduate, played professional baseball after receiving one of UK's first baseball scholarships. He worked with Procter and Gamble in sales and spent the early 1960's with his own real estate, building and insurance company as well as doing play-by-play for several networks broadcasting UK sports.
In 1967, at age 29, Host became the youngest member of Governor Louie B. Nunn's cabinet as commissioner of the Department of Public Information and then as commissioner of the Department of Parks. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1971.
Host returned to Lexington in 1972 and opened Jim Host and Associates, which began rapid development in 1974 with two contracts: a basketball and football radio agreement with the University of Kentucky and an executive management relationship with the National Tour Association. Host began a long standing business relationship with the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1975 and is credited with implementing the first collegiate corporate sports marketing program for the NCAA in 1984. Host handled all radio, publishing, marketing and corporate marketing for the NCAA for over 30 years.
In 1995, Host was named to the Junior Achievement Bluegrass Business Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was named to the University of Kentucky Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honors and the state of Kentucky's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2001, he received one of Kentucky's top civic awards: Kentuckian of the Year from the Chandler Foundation. In 2003, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications. In 2004, Host was named Rural Kentuckian of the Year by the Rural Electric Cooperatives of Kentucky. In 2008, Host received the Spirit of Louisville Award from the Louisville Metro Council for his efforts on behalf of the Louisville Arena project. In 2009, he was the recipient of the University of Louisville Hickman Camp Award, given annually to the individual who has provided special service in support of the University of Louisville Cardinal Athletics. Also, in 2009, Host received the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Chairman's Cup Award and was named to the University of Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. Host has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of College Marketers. He has also been inducted into the Travel Industry of America's Hall of Leaders and the National Tourism Foundation Hall of Fame. In March 2010, Host was part of the “Inaugural Class of Six” as a member of the Champions, Pioneers and Innovators in Sports Business by the Sports Business Journal.
Host was the founding chairman of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which were held in Kentucky in September 2010.
He recently retired as chairman of the Louisville Arena Authority which oversaw the construction and opening of the $238 Million KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville. The 14,000 sq. foot lobby of the facility was named Host Hall at the ribbon cutting ceremony in his Honor.
In November, Host was named the Chairman of the Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement (BEAM), an economic partnership between Louisville and Lexington, by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray.
Most recently, the Bluegrass Sports Commission honored Host by naming two of its annual awards after him. The Jim Host Youth Sports Award will be given annually to a Kentuckian that has achieved great success in coaching, administering, volunteering or otherwise associating with youth and/or high school sports that has had a positive impact on their community and the Commonwealth. The Jim Host Sports Business Award will be given annually to a Kentuckian that has achieved a high level of success in the sports industry and has had a positive impact in the state.
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