Due Receives Publication Awards

ATHERTON, Calif. (July 3, 2010) - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Sports Information Directors Association (SIDA) held its 2010 NAIA-SIDA Convention Saturday, hosted by Menlo College and the California Pacific Athletic Conference, and the convention included a trio of NAIA-SIDA publication honors received by Lubbock Christian University Sports Director Chris Due and a special honor to Sue McAlexander during the Ike Pearson Luncheon.

Mrs. Alexander is the widow of the late Walt McAlexander.  She received a plaque with a photo of Walt and an engravement honoring him from the 2010 NAIA-SIDA Convention.   Walt served as a Lubbock Avalanche Journal sports writer from 1966-1978 and then as the Sports Information Director at then-Lubbock Christian College until moving over into a sports information role at Texas Tech University in 1991.  While at LCC, his media guides won 24 national awards. He was named NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year (Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award) in 1988, joined LCU's Hall of Honor in 1997 and was named to the NAIA Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.  Walt passed away Jan. 3, 2007 after a ten year battle with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 62.   The NAIA-SIDA pays respect to McAlexander by naming the award for the best baseball publication in his honor.

Due, who just completed his third school season as LCU’s Sports Information Director, was honored by having the best Men’s Basketball Brochure with the 2009-2010 LCU Media Guide publication.  The 33 year-old Fort Worth, Texas native also received runner-up for having the best Volleyball Brochure (2009 LCU Media Guide) and finished fourth in best Women’s Basketball Brochure (2009-2010 LCU Media Guide).

“To receive a publication honor at the same luncheon Walt (McAlexander) is recognized is special and the honors I received today are dedicated to him,” said Due. “He was a pioneer in the field and I feel it is my job to continue to carry out the drive and dedication he presented.  I hope Sue understands that Walt’s recognition is our (NAIA-SIDA) way of letting her know that we will never forget that Walt performed tasks as an SID that have made the job what it is today.”

The publication honors were decided upon by a committee of Sports Information Directors.  The NAIA-SIDA Convention kicks off the College Sports Information Director’s (CoSIDA) Convention held in San Francisco.