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National
Distance Running Hall of Fame Honors Worldwide Publisher
Emeritus of Runner’s World magazine, George
Hirsch with George Sheehan Award
July 8, 2003 (Utica, New York) -- The
National Distance Running Hall of Fame annually honors
a journalist who has captured the spirit of running
and has helped to enhance the sport through words
and stories. George Hirsch, Publisher Emeritus of
Runner’s World magazine at Rodale, Inc., will
be honored with the George Sheehan Award For Outstanding
Journalistic Contributions to the Sport of Distance
Running, at the Hall’s Induction Ceremony on
July 12, at 5 p.m. at the Stanley Performing Arts
Center in Utica, New York.
Hirsch began his career at Rodale in 1987 as Publisher
of Runner’s World when the publication merged
with The Runner, a magazine that Hirsch had founded.
In each of the past six years (1997-2002) Runner’s
World has achieved records high in profitability and
circulation. Under Hirsch’s leadership as publisher
and then Worldwide Publisher, Runner’s World
launched eight successful oversees editions. He has
been instrumental in the launch of Runner’s
World overseas and was named Vice President, Magazine
Division in 1991. Hirsch was the first publishing
director of Men’s Health magazine and served
as director of international magazines at Rodale.
Prior to joining Rodale, Hirsch was founding publisher
and president of New York magazine, founding publisher
and president of New Times magazine, and assistant
publisher of Life International and Life En Espanol
at Time, Inc. According to The Media Industry Newsletter,
Hirsch has been a magazine publisher longer than any
person in the business.
Hirsch was the 1986 Democratic candidate for Congress
in New York’s Silk Stocking District. He was
a founder of the New York City Marathon, and served
on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness
(1986-88), and was the Vice Chairman of the New York
City Sports Commission. He has been a frequent television
commentator for major racing events including three
Olympic Games and nearly every major U.S. marathon
including Boston and New York. He is chairman of the
Magazine Publishers of America International Committee
and serves on the Board of Directors of Salon Media
Group.
A graduate of Princeton University (magna cum laude),
Hirsch also received his MBA from the Harvard School
of Business. He resides in New York City with his
wife, Shay Hirsch. They have four sons.
"Through his Publisher's Letter, the first column
in Runner's World magazine for nearly 20 years, George
Hirsch set a tone and example that inspired all runners,”
Amby Burfoot, Executive Editor of Runner’s World
magazine said. “Whether he was writing about
his own running, or his wife's or his children's,
or addressing one of the important issues of the sport,
he always found an emotional point of entry that the
magazine's 2 million readers could easily relate to."
The National Distance Running Hall of Fame will present
Hirsch with an artist’s rendition of a bronzed
typewriter during the ceremony. The National Distance
Running Hall of Fame also houses a replica of the
award, which lists Hirsch and previous award winners,
Kenny Moore, Dick Patrick, Bert Rosenthal, and Amby
Burfoot. “Hirsch is remarkably influential in
the sport of distance running, as well as health and
wellness, and a perfect example of how the talent
and dedication of one person can further a cause and
alter the course of life for those he inspires,”
John Petrone, co-director, National Distance Running
Hall of Fame, said. “We are honored to add him
to the list of people whose aptitude and contributions
to the sport of distance running will be immortalized
at the Hall of Fame.” |
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