DAPHNE, Ala. – Richard Watkins, a sculptor known nationally for his award-winning work depicting stylized and whimsical athletes and animals, has been named the United States Sports Academy’s 2017 Sport Artist of the Year, Sculptor.

Watkins was presented the honor by Academy Trustee Jack Scharr at the Academy’s 33rd Annual Awards of Sport celebration held recently on campus in Daphne, Ala.

Watkins, who is based in Atlanta, Ga., attended design school at the University of Cincinnati and spent 25 years working in the toy business, where he designed and developed toys for several large toy manufacturers. He began to work professionally as a sculptor after his retirement from the toy business. Continue reading →

DAPHNE, Ala. – Acclaimed sculptor Richard Watkins and nationally known painter William M. Williams were awarded the United States Sports Academy’s 2017 Sport Artists of the Year awards at the Academy’s recent 33rd Annual Awards of Sport program.

A highlight of the event on the Academy’s Daphne campus was the unveiling and donation to the American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA) permanent art collection works by Watkins and Williams. Watkins’ basketball piece “Slam Dunk” and Williams’ piece “Satchel’s Monarchs,” which honors the legacy of baseball legend Satchel Paige, are now on permanent display at ASAMA.  In addition to the permanent pieces, a show featuring works from both artists is now on display at ASAMA in the Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich Gallery. Continue reading →

Source: Asama.org

The United States Sports Academy recently held its 33rd Annual Awards of Sport program on campus in Daphne. Honorees, seated from left, are Sport Artist of the Year, Sculptor, Richard Watkins of Atlanta, Ga.; Dwight D. Eisenhower Fitness Award winner Fairfax Hackley, master trainer and bodybuilder from Falls Church, Va.; Alumnus of the Year Dr. Dave Shrock of Modesto, Calif., (Ed.D, Sports Management, 2009), USA Track & Field leader and Academy National Faculty member; Dr. Ernst Jokl Sports Medicine Award winner Dr. Kenneth Cameron, director of Orthopaedic Research at Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, N.Y.; and Sport Artist of the Year, Painter, William Williams of Battle Creek, Mich. Respective presenters were trustees, second row from left, Jack Scharr of St. Louis, Mo.; Dr. Gary Cunningham of Santa Barbara, Calif., Academy President and CEO Dr. T.J. Rosandich of Fairhope, Ala., Dr. Don Wukasch of Austin, Texas, and Susan McCollough of Gulf Shores, Ala. Shown third row from left are trustee Dr. Nick Niccolai of Mobile, Ala., and trustee and Founding President Dr. T.P. Rosandich of Daphne, Ala.

To view a full length video of the Awards of Sport 2017 ceremony, click here.

The United States Sports Academy recently held its 33rd Annual Awards of Sport program, a celebration of sport and art and “A Tribute to the Artist and the Athlete.”

The Academy’s Awards of Sport honor those who have made significant contributions to sport in categories as diverse as the artist and the athlete. The awards honor exemplary achievement in coaching, all-around athletic performance, courage, humanitarian activity, fitness, and media, among others. The Academy’s American Sport Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA) annually recognizes these men and women through its Sport Artist of the Year, Honorary Doctorates, Medallion Series, Distinguished Service Awards, Outstanding Athletes and Alumni of the Year awards. Continue reading →

The public is invited as the United States Sports Academy holds its 33rd Annual Awards of Sport program, a celebration of sport and art and “A Tribute to the Artist and the Athlete.”

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, 9 November 2017, on the Academy’s campus located at One Academy Drive in Daphne, Ala. A reception will follow. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP at (251) 626-3303 or email communications@ussa.edu. Continue reading →

DAPHNE, Ala. – The United States Sports Academy recently hosted a campus luncheon and art museum tour for local military veterans, including two who served in World War II.

Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich, a former Marine who founded the Academy in 1972, told the group about the institution’s mission to serve the nation and the world as a sport education resource focused on upgrading sport through programs of instruction, research and service. He also talked with the veterans about the Academy’s American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA), home to more than 1,800 works of sport art across a variety of media, including paintings, sculptures, assemblages, prints and photographs.

The veterans were also given a presentation on the Academy’s academic programs by Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Stephen Butler, a 24-year Air Force veteran, who noted that numerous members of the Academy’s faculty and staff are veterans. Continue reading →

DAPHNE, Ala. – The North American Iranian Friendship Society (NAIFS) presented the United States Sports Academy’s American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA) a bronze sculpture of the late legendary Iranian wrestler and national hero Jahan Pahlavan Takhti at a recent special ceremony on the Academy campus.
Continue reading →

Source: Busta_LBps

The United States Sports Academy’s American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA) in Daphne, Ala., recently received a gift of a limited edition large print of National Baseball Hall of Fame pitchers Steve Carlton and the late Robin Roberts in their Philadelphia Phillies player uniforms. The print is signed by both players, as well as the artist, Cliff Spohn of Plymouth, Conn. The gift was made by Dr. Joseph F. Busta Jr., of Ono Island, Ala., retired vice president for development and alumni relations at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. Founded in 1984, ASAMA is dedicated to the preservation of sports art, history, and literature. The ASAMA collection is composed of more than 1,800 works of sport art across a variety of media, including paintings, sculptures, assemblages, prints and photographs. The museum is open free to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

DAPHNE, Ala. – The public is invited when the North American Iranian Friendship Society (NAIFS) presents the United States Sports Academy’s American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA) with a bronze sculpture of the late legendary Iranian wrestler and national hero Jahan Pahlavan Takhti.

The presentation is set for Tuesday, 3 October 2017, at 6 p.m. at ASAMA, located at One Academy Drive in Daphne.  Refreshments will be served.

Created by sculptor Dr. Alireza Khaghani of Tehran, the three-foot, 110-pound statue depicts the Olympic and World Champion wrestler from the waist up giving a wave of salutation and celebration.

The wrestler’s given name was Gholamreza Takhti, but he was popularly called “Jahan Pahlavan,” which means “World Champion.”   The Iranian people gave him this name for his success in wrestling and his chivalrous behavior and sportsmanship during competition. The Tehran native was known throughout his home country not only for his athletic accomplishments, but for being a hero of common people and for supporting the poor and downtrodden.

Born in 1930, Takhti won his first Iranian championship in 1950, and went on to become the highest ranked wrestler in the history of Iranian wrestling. He won one gold (1956 Melbourne) and two silver medals (1952 Helsinki, 1960 Rome) in Olympic Games, as well as two gold (1959 Tehran, 1961 Yokohama) and two silver medals (1951 Helsinki, 1962 Toledo) in World Championships. He is in the United World Wrestling (formerly FILA) Hall of Fame.  He competed in multiple weight classes throughout his career. Continue reading →

Source: Asama.orgUnited States Sports Academy President and CEO Dr. T.J. Rosandich, center, recently hosted Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce President Casey Williams, right, and Communications Manager Denise Curtis on the campus in Daphne, Ala., to discuss community collaborations. Williams and Curtis toured the American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA) while on campus.

The United States Sports Academy is an independent, non-profit, accredited, special mission sports university created to serve the nation and world with programs in instruction, research and service. The role of the Academy is to prepare men and women for careers in the profession of sports. Continue reading →

DAPHNE, Ala. – An original painting of golfer Bubba Watson winning his historic second Masters championship by Rick Rush, world renowned sports artist and United States Sports Academy 2011 Sport Artist of the Year,  has been donated to the collection of the Academy’s American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA).

Known worldwide for his colorful paintings that depict a variety of sports, Rush presented the original work, titled “Right on Course,” to ASAMA after an anonymous benefactor purchased the painting to donate to the museum, where the work is now on permanent display.

Watson won the Masters championship at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia in both 2012 and 2014, becoming only the 17th golfer to win the tournament’s coveted green jack twice since the event began in 1934. Rush said “Right on Course” depicts Watson at a time when a new group of golfers would step into the spotlight previously occupied by the greats like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Jerry Pate. Continue reading →