Sports Hall of Fame to Name Award in Honor of Matt Dobek

TROY, Mich., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame announced today that its annual Special Recognition Award will be named in honor of former Detroit Piston's executive Matt Dobek. The award, presented each year at the NPASHF Induction Banquet, will now be known as the "Matt Dobek Special Recognition Award."

Founded in 1973 for the purpose of honoring outstanding professional and amateur athletes of Polish descent, the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame established its Special Recognition Award in 1989, as a means of recognizing and honoring those individuals, frequently unheralded, that have demonstrated dedication, devotion and service to sports "above and beyond the ordinary."  Since its inception, 34 individuals have earned the award, in most instances, for contributions made outside the competitive phases of sport.

Matt Dobek, for whom the award has been re-named, served as long-time Public Relations Director for the Detroit Pistons.  He played an instrumental role in the Piston's 1989, 1990, and 2004 championship seasons, and also served as communications director for the 1992 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team in Barcelona, Spain.  Dobek's untimely and tragic death earlier this year stunned many in both basketball and news media circles, where Matt enjoyed a reputation as an honest and dedicated professional.

"Naming this award after Matt allows our organization to honor him as a person who exemplified dedication to sports, community, and Polish-American heritage," stated Jerry Dettloff, Vice Chairman of the NPASHF.  "His numerous accomplishments throughout his working career with the Detroit Pistons organization, as a proud Polish-American, truly reflect the spirit in which this award is given annually to deserving individuals."

Dobek, who served as a member of the NPASHF Board of Directors from 1985-88, is a past-recipient of the award that now bears his name.  He was honored in 2003.  Other recipients of the award include Tony Lutomski, Sue Kruszewski-Hardy, Chet Jawor, Mack Phillips and Jerome "Buck" Jerzy.  In 1999, a "team" Special Recognition Award was given to the 1959 Hamtramck Little League World Series Champs, honoring the 40th anniversary of their world championship.  

A complete listing of all Special Recognition Award recipients and additional information regarding the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame is available by visiting www.polishsportshof.com.

SOURCE National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame