City of Rochester
News Release
(Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010) — Mayor Robert J. Duffy joined Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame President Anthony Liccione today to announce the revival of the S. Rae Hickok Professional Athlete Award. Established in 1950 by the Hickok Manufacturing Company of Rochester, N.Y., the award was given to the nation’s professional athlete of the year as voted on by sportswriters and broadcasters nationwide from 1950–1976 and was presented at the Rochester Press Radio Club’s annual Day of Champions children’s charity dinner.
“The Hickok Belt was the most coveted individual pro sports honor of its time,” said Mayor Duffy. “I am so proud of Tony Liccione for his efforts to bring the Belt back, and I hope he can return it to the prominence it once held.”
Nationally recognized sports columnist and best-selling author Scott Pitoniak wrote in a 1999 article that Rochester took on a Hollywood feel each year when America’s most famous athletes convened here in the 1950s, 60s and early 70s in hopes of being named the top professional athlete in the United States. Muhammad Ali, Mickey Mantle, Jim Brown, Arnold Palmer, Willie Mays, Joe Namath, Ben Hogan, Rocky Marciano and Otto Graham are among the belt winners, and the ceremony was commonly referred to as “the Academy Award of sports.”
Mr. Pitoniak has a retrospective book looking back on the award and each of the 26 award-winners coming out this month. Liccione is also marketing a one-hour television special on the award.
“The Belt’s recipients are yesterday’s heroes and today’s legends,” said Liccione, who created Liccione Enterprises, Inc. to obtain the trademark rights to the Belt. “These were athletes who gave so much to their country and shaped American sports.”
“An award like this is special, not only because it recognizes the feats of an athlete amongst his peers in his sport, but also the best of the best in all sports,” said baseball hall-of-famer Fergie Jenkins, whose foundation has supported Liccione’s efforts to resurrect the award. “It is something that represents competition at its purest. It’s an award given to the best of the best of the best. I think bringing an award of this caliber back is an incredible task and I give my full support to Mr. Anthony Liccione.”
Liccione is planning a banquet for 2011 to award the belt for the first time since 1977. 1957 Hickok Belt winner Carmen Basilio was in attendance at the announcement.
-30- News Media: For more information, contact Tony Liccione at 585-964-3077.