ISHA’s Highest Honor Celebrates Sustained Contributions to Sports Heritage
August 6, 2024 — The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) has named Susan Wasser as a recipient of its highest honor, The W.R. “Bill” Schroeder Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes individuals for meritorious service of a lasting nature in the sports heritage industry.
“Honoring legends within our sport heritage community is what we do daily; however, it is always important to recognize those people who have also assisted in growing those organizations.” said Meggan Gardner, ISHA President. “Susan Wasser continues to be an advocate for the USGA and golf history. She was an amazing leader during her time with ISHA and I am proud that we are recognizing her with the Schroeder Award.”
Wasser will be formally recognized on September 18 at ISHA’s 2024 Annual Conference, highlighting their “Evening of Champions” celebration at The Sport Museum in Boston.
Wasser’s work in historic preservation and sports heritage spans decades and includes significant contributions to preserving golf history and driving donor engagement through the United States Golf Association (USGA), where she has worked since 2008. The USGA’s Golf Museum and Library, located in Liberty Corner, N.J., is America’s oldest sports museum, with a collection of more than 70,000 cataloged artifacts, 750,000 photographs, 100,000 library items and more.
“Susan is simply in a class of her own when it comes to respecting the history of the game, and stewarding those that invest in the USGA for the future,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “I’m proud to be Susan’s teammate and thrilled that the ISHA has recognized her incredible impact!”
During her tenure with the USGA’s museum team, Wasser helped expand storytelling of golf’s rich heritage through the lens of cultural change. Her work not only engaged golf fans, donors, and collectors but also caught the interest of a wider group of sports history enthusiasts and curators worldwide.
Among her many achievements, she is credited with developing and managing the African American golf archive, one of the deepest collections to exist on the subject. She was also intimately involved in the collection of artifacts that are currently on display in the Mickey Wright room within the Museum.
Wasser’s ability to forge and strengthen relationships within the sports heritage industry has led to multiple collaborations, educational forums, and peer networking opportunities.
She joined the USGA Foundation team in 2016 as a natural progression from her museum activities, currently leading its Legacy Giving, Donor Relations, and Stewardship efforts.
“I applaud the ISHA for honoring Susan Wasser with the W. R. “Bill’ Schroder Award,” said Charlie Pagnam, chief philanthropy officer for the USGA. “Susan is well known and respected for her interest and dedication to the field of Sports Heritage. Having a unique ability to communicate, lead, and connect, I am certain that Susan’s years of commitment to the Association will have a long-lasting impact.”
Wasser’s commitment to preserve the rich history of golf, ensure new stories are told, and connect with the next generation of sports enthusiasts can be seen throughout her work at the USGA.
“Sports communities are social communities and sports museums thrive when their leaders appreciate the power of strong relationships,” said Rand Jerris, Ph.D., recipient of the 2015 Schroeder Award and former director of the USGA Museum and Archives. “Susan has long exemplified precisely this manner of leadership. Throughout her long years of service to the USGA Museum, and more recently with the USGA Foundation, she built enduring relationships across the golf community that helped grow the museum’s programs and collections and elevate its reputation. Her passion, her warmth, and her generosity have been the hallmarks of her success and I’m thrilled to know that the ISHA community is honoring her with this important award.”
About ISHA
Originally called the Association of Sports Museums and Halls of Fame, ISHA was established in 1971 by William “Buck” Dawson of the Swimming Hall of Fame in Florida, M.H. Lefty Reid of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Vaughan L. Baird of the Aquatic Hall of Fame, both located in Canada. It became the International Association of Sports Museums and Halls of Fame when it was incorporated in the State of Delaware on June 27, 1989. The name was changed to the International Sports Heritage Association on December 20, 2005.
There are over 130 institutions located in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia that are Regular Members of ISHA. In addition, various corporations and individuals participate in and contribute to the growth of ISHA as Associate Members.
About the Bill Schroeder Award
The W.R. “Bill” Schroeder Award is presented periodically and is the highest honor given by ISHA. To be considered, individuals must have made a significant contribution of a lasting nature to the field of sports heritage. It was first awarded in 1985 for his pioneering contributions to developing sports museums and halls of fame and as a founding father, past president, and past secretary of ISHA.
For more information, see sportsheritage.org.
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Contact Information
Shane Mailman
Executive Director
(902)489-4509
International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA)
31 Birchdale Avenue, Timberlea,
Nova Scotia, B3T1K1, CA