RememberingWednesday, November 11
Bill Shover, Fiesta Bowl co-founder who shaped Valley sports, dies at 98
The Good Day Chandler team
Bill Shover, a co-founder of the Fiesta Bowl who helped shape the Valley sports world, has died. KOLD reports he died at home on Nov. 7 at 98, after decades as The Arizona Republic's community relations manager.
The Fiesta Sports Foundation called him a “true community connector.” It said his work leading communications “played a critical role” in convincing the NCAA that the Fiesta Bowl would be a prominent player.
Shover's work shaped the Valley for decades
- 1992Shover is behind efforts to make MLK Jr.'s birthday an Arizona holiday
- March 1993Arizona is told it will get Super Bowl XXX; Shover chairs the committee
- 1996Super Bowl XXX comes to Tempe, an effort Shover chaired
- Sept. 1998The Republic says Shover will retire after more than three decades
- Nov. 7Shover dies at home at 98
Sources: KOLD, azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic
- Involved in launching the Phoenix Suns
- Helped get the USS Arizona anchor to the State Capitol
- Coordinated a visit by Pope John Paul II to Arizona
- Founding member of the Phoenix 40, now Greater Phoenix Leadership
The Arizona Republic's photo gallery remembers his community work. One March 22, 1993, photo shows him as chairman of the Phoenix Super Bowl Committee after the announcement that Arizona would get Super Bowl XXX.
98Shover's age when he died at home on Nov. 7
He worked for decades as the community relations manager at The Arizona Republic.
Source: KOLD
Sources: KOLD, azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic