July 2, 2008

TAMPA, FLA. (Wednesday, July 2, 2008) - Southeast Missouri State University Sports Information Director Ron Hines was honored today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) with the 25-Year Award at the organization's annual convention held this year at the Tampa Marriott Waterside in Tampa, Fla. Hines has just finished his 29th year as the director at the university.

Hines was one of twenty sports information directors (SID's) that recieved the prestigious award. Recipients of this honor are CoSIDA members who have completed 25 years in the profession. Only full-time employment in the profession counts toward the 25-year minimum. Part-time, intern or graduate assistant positions do not count.

Before arriving in Cape Girardeau, Hines previously served for two years as an assistant SID at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale under the tutelage of Fred Huff as well as serving four years as a student assistant at the University of Missouri under Bill Callahan.

A graduate of the University of Missouri's prestigious Journalism College (1965), Hines is a veteran print and broadcast journalist with experience in daily and weekly newspaper operations as well as radio and television.

Hines is a member of CoSIDA and has written over 21 award winning publications including four judged "Best in the Nation."

Justin Maskus (Missouri Southern), John Kean (Missouri University of Science and Technology), Patrick Clark, Kyle Schwartz (Ohio Valley Conference) and Nathan Saverino; past and current assistants for Ron Hines were on hand for the presentation of his 25-Year Award from CoSIDA at the annual convention in Tampa, Florida

Hines has worked a record 820 consecutive men's basketball games at Southeast Missouri State. He has not missed a game since 1980.

Hines has mentored numerous assistants and graduate assistants at Southeast Missouri State that have gone on to successfull careers in sports information. Currently six of his former employees are SID's including Brad Kirtley (Austin Peay), John Kean (Missouri University of Science and Technology), Rick Kindhart (Missouri State), Justin Maskus (Missouri Southern), Kyle Schwartz (The Ohio Valley Conference) and Brian Kunderman (Saint Louis University).

Hines and his wife Mary have three children and seven grandchildren.

CoSIDA was founded in 1957. Previously, sports information directors, as a group, were a part of the American College Public Relations Association but most SIDs at those ACPRA meetings felt that a separate organization was needed. There were 102 members at the original meetings; since that time, CoSIDA has grown to over 1,800 members in the United States and Canada. The association is designed to help the SID at all levels.