Valley SportsWednesday, November 11
Bill Shover, a Fiesta Bowl co-founder who helped shape Valley sports, has died at 98
The Good Day Gilbert team
Bill Shover, a former newspaper executive and co-founder of the Fiesta Bowl, has died. He died at his home on Nov. 7, and he spent decades at The Arizona Republic as its community relations manager.
98Bill Shover's age when he died on Nov. 7
The Arizona Republic reported his age, according to KOLD.
Source: KOLD
The Fiesta Sports Foundation said in a statement Monday that Shover “played a critical role” in making the game a reality, and called him a “true community connector.” The foundation says he was involved in launching the Phoenix Suns and in chairing the successful efforts to bring Super Bowl XXX to Tempe in 1996.
- Helped bring the USS Arizona anchor from Pearl Harbor to the Capitol
- Coordinated Pope John Paul II's visit to Arizona
- Founding member of the Phoenix 40, now Greater Phoenix Leadership
- Behind efforts for an Arizona MLK Jr. holiday in 1992
The Republic's photo gallery of his career shows him as chairman of the Phoenix Super Bowl Committee in 1993 and, at 70, retiring after more than three decades with the company.
Shover helped land a Super Bowl and spent decades at The Republic
- March 1993Arizona is announced as the host of Super Bowl XXX; Shover chairs the committee.
- 1996Super Bowl XXX comes to Tempe, after efforts Shover chaired.
- Sept. 1998Shover, 70, will retire as director of public affairs after more than three decades at The Republic.
- Nov. 7Shover dies at his home at 98.
Sources: KOLD, azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic
Sources: KOLD, azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic