The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) presented Green Bay, WI. native Cliff Christl with its Legacy Award during its annual conference hosted by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame September 27-29.
Christl received the award at An Evening of Champions, the conference awards banquet held Thursday, September 29 at 6 pm at Rockwood Terrace.
Christl is the fourth recipient of the award, which ISHA created in 2018 to recognize an individual or organization located in the geographical area of the annual conference in order to provide an opportunity for the host to honor a local sports heritage contributor.
Cliff Christl has spent the bulk of his professional life writing about and researching the Packers. He has served as Packers team historian since 2014, having spent 36 years as a sportswriter covering the team for four different Wisconsin newspapers.
A native of Green Bay, he worked for 14 months at the Manitowoc Herald-Times before spending close to 16 years at the Green Bay Press-Gazette and 20 years at The Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Christl served on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee from 2002 to 2014 and has been a member of the Packers Hall of Fame selection committee since 2007. He has authored or co-authored seven other books, mostly about the Packers and pro football. He also spearheaded the effort to create the Packers Heritage Trail with its 25 historical sites and impressive downtown plaza, which recounts the story of the Packers’ rich history from Lambeau to Lombardi. He recently published The Greatest Story in Sports, a four-volume definitive history of the Green Bay Packers.
“The Packers are proud to see Cliff honored with the Legacy Award from the International Sports Heritage Association,” said Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Packers. “Cliff’s work as a historian has been incredibly valuable to the organization. His hard work and dedication to capturing our history thoroughly and accurately are unmatched. We’re pleased to celebrate his contributions to sports heritage as a whole.”
About ISHA
The International Sports Heritage Association is a non-profit membership organization incorporated in 1971. The mission of ISHA is to educate, promote and support organizations and individuals engaged in the celebration of sports heritage. ISHA includes nearly 150 regular members from countries such as China, New Zealand, England, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States. In addition, corporations and individuals participate in and contribute to the growth of ISHA as Associate Members. For more information about ISHA, visit sportsheritage.test.
Contact:
Katie Hermsen
Public Affairs Manager
Shane Mailman
ISHA Executive Administrator
Caitlin Dyer
ISHA Communications Committee