Gary Niland, President of the SGAA, has announced that Mike Higgins of Higgins & Associates is the new Western Director of the 69-year old trade organization. “Higgins has been a member of the Sporting Goods Agents Association since 1983”, said Niland, “and we look forward to having him share his expertise and knowledge with our other officers and directors.”

In other rep news:

  • Northeastern State University recently inducted former rep, Jack Rusher, into their NSU Athletic Hall of Fame. Rusher had earned his bachelor’s degree from Northeastern in 1953 and as a 230-pound fullback (larger than most offensive linemen in his day) becomes the fourth member of that 1952 NSU Redmen Team to be enshrined. After leaving the teaching/coaching profession in 1963, he entered the sporting industry and later became an independent agent from 1972-1998 before retiring from E.C. Frazier & Associates, Waco, Texas. Rusher actively supported youth sports programs around the Tulsa metro area for years, providing equipment and clothing-anonymously – for underprivileged children, remarked Chuck Saul, President of the Frazier agency.

  • The New England Sporting Goods Agents Association announced the selection of Holovak & Coughlin Sporting Goods of Arlington, MA as their Retailer of the Year. H & C, who recently celebrated 40 years in the retail business, will attend the NSGA Management Conference in May as part of the award.

  • Robert Wolfe, President of ABC (American Baseball Company) honored United Sports Ltd. with their 2002 Agency of the Year Award, making the recent presentation to partners Art Paugh and Stephen Wolfe, along with associates Kevin Barger and Mike O’Neal. United Sports agency is headquartered out of Talladega, AL and travel eight southern states.

  • Krenzien, Krenzien & Associates, Northbrook, Illinois, celebrating 70 years as independent reps, have hired Patrick Barczewski of Ft. Collins, CO as their Rocky Mountain Dealer Specialist.
    The Krenzien organization, covering 20 states with 12 salespeople, represents Worth Inc., South Bend Sporting Goods, Gamemaster and Metal Fusion.

  • Winning Edge Sales Group, a newly founded organization headed by Tim Davis, previous president of W. Lamar Young & Company and staffed by many former Young & Company personnel, will assume responsibility for Young & Company clients and customers. “We expect that this spirit of cooperation will accrue the greatest benefits for all,” remarked Davis. W. Lamar Young & Company has established a cooperation agreement with Winning Edge to carry on its fine sales tradition and dedication to the industry, as it ends its 70 years in the sporting goods business.

  • SGAA will continue their board and annual meeting sessions at Super Show but have decided to also convene each and every year during the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit, which will be held in 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona, May 18-21, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. For information on joining or inquiring about independent representation, e-mail COO Lois Halinton at SGAA998@aol.com or call her at 847-296-3670 at Chicago Headquarters.