March 14, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. - Former Arizona State University track star and senior associate athletic director Herman Frazier has been recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the McLendon Foundation as a recipient of the 2012 Pioneer Award.
Frazier was the first African-American to have won a Gold Medal and then to return as the Chef de Mission in charge of the United States delegation at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
The Pioneer Award honors minority "firsts" in athletics, and will be presented at the 2012 John McLendon Minority Athletics Administrators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, June 27.
Frazier was an eight-time All-American as a Sun Devil, running track & field in the mid-1970s. He was team captain for the 1977 NCAA National Champion track team, during which he won the 400-meter individual championship, and his 4 X 400 relay team that year set a new collegiate record.
Herman's professional track career capitalized in 1976, winning a Gold Medal as the leadoff runner in the 4 X 400 relay and a Bronze Medal in the individual 400-meter race. He continued his tenure with the Olympics, serving on various committees since 1980, and being named Chef de Mission in 2004 for the entire U.S. delegation. He is also a two-time Vice President of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Frazier continued success with Arizona State, serving in athletics administration for 23 years and eventually earning the title of Senior Associate Athletic Director. Herman has since worked as an athletic director for the University of Alabama, the University of Hawai'i, and Temple University. Frazier currently is the Deputy Athletics Director/Chief of Staff at Syracuse University.
Frazier has been named one of the Top 100 Athletes of All-Time by the NCAA in 2006, one of the Top 101 Minorities in Sports by Sports Illustrated in 2003 and 2004, and one of the 100 Most Influential Persons in Sports in the U.S. by the Sporting News in 2008. He also received the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from Arizona State University for his work with the university and his involvement with other sports groups throughout the years.