“From Chicago to Indy – The First 100 Years” Commemorative Book Now Available from NFHS

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 16, 2019) — As a culmination of its yearlong Centennial celebration, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has published a hardbound book on the first 100 years of the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts programs.

“From Chicago to Indy – The First 100 Years” traces the early years of the NFHS in downtown Chicago to its current home in Indianapolis, which includes stops in Elgin, Illinois, and Kansas City, Missouri, along the way.

The 11 x 8½ hardbound, 208-page commemorative book contains information on the eight NFHS executive directors, playing rules for high school sports, national meetings, services for activity programs, NFHS programs and services, Title IX and the growth of girls sports programs, history of state high school associations, governance, publications, National High School Hall of Fame and NFHS staff members.

The commemorative book also contains a listing of the “Top 20 Success Stories of the First 100 Years,” led by Executive Director C. W. Whitten’s leadership in 1930 in stopping the National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament run by Amos Alonzo Stagg, which marked the end of the involvement of colleges and universities in running high school sports.

In addition to L. W. Smith and Whitten, who were part-time executive directors, the book summarizes the accomplishments of the six full-time NFHS executive directors: H. V. Porter (1940-58), Cliff Fagan (1958-77), Brice Durbin (1977-93), Bob Kanaby (1993-2010), Bob Gardner (2010-18) and Karissa Niehoff (2018-present).

The commemorative book was written by Bruce Howard, NFHS director of publications and communications, and designed by Kim Vogel, NFHS senior graphic designer. The book was printed by Link Printing Services, LLC, of Indianapolis.

“From Chicago to Indy – The First 100 Years” is available for $29.95 (plus shipping and handling) through the NFHS Order Department at www.NFHS.com.

About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,800 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.8 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.