Ames 1976
Harry Burrell, ISU’s first sports information director, who served Cyclone administrators, coaches and student-athletes for more than 40 years in that capacity. Burrell, the second-longest tenured SID in collegiate history (44 years), was responsible for the sports publicity efforts throughout his five decades of service to the Iowa State athletic department. He was the first sports information director at Northern Iowa from 1934-41 and then SID at Iowa State from 1941-78, excepting naval service as a gunnery officier in the Pacific theatre during World War II. Only Temple’s Al Shrier (51 years) served in his profession longer. As one of the pioneers in the sports information field, Burrell helped establish the guidelines for his profession and is remembered by his peers and contemporaries as a tireless promoter of ISU athletic teams as well as a consummate professional and a caring individual. The national athletic media relations organization, College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), elected Burrell into its Hall of Fame as a member of its second class (1970). He attended Iowa City High School and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from the University of Iowa. Burrell’s awards include Helms Foundation Hall of Fame, CoSida Hall of Fame, Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame, Iowa Golf Hall of Fame, Iowa State Letterwinners’ Athletic Hall of Fame, Catholic Youth Organization’s National Award for service to media and the nation’s youth, Iowa Daily Press Association Distinguished Service Award (1968)> , City of Ames Distinguished Service Award (1968), Iowa High School Athletic Directors Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to high school athletics, Special Citation from the Iowa State University student body for service to Iowa State and Faculty Citation for service to Iowa State.