FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration (239) 335-2777
D.T. Minich, Visitor & Convention Bureau (239) 338-3500

LEE COUNTY EMPLOYEE EARNS HONOR FROM NATIONAL SPORTS ORGANIZATION

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 17, 2002) – Gary Ewen, director of sports development with the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB), has been presented with the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). Ewen was honored during the organization’s annual national convention, recently.

Ewen was one of 20 award recipients out of the AAU’s 400,000 members. Founded in 1888, the AAU is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the U.S. The AAU is dedicated to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.

“Through Gary’s efforts, the AAU has experienced fantastic growth,” said Keith Noll, president of the Wisconsin AAU, who nominated Ewen for the award. In 2000, Ewen assisted the AAU Inline Hockey/Junior Olympic Committee in coordinating the Junior Olympic inline competition. “With Gary’s assistance on this particular competition, it was a turning point in our sport. Since that experience in Lee County, the popularity of our sport has grown tremendously.”

An 18-year county employee, Ewen has been instrumental in attracting a variety of amateur and professional sporting events to Lee County. Under his leadership, Lee County has played host to 11 national championships in various sports. In 2002, such AAU sporting events brought 40,000 room nights to Lee County. A graduate of Springfield College in Massachusetts, Ewen earned a bachelor of science degree in community services. He holds notable certifications and positions, such as being a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional and a member of the Board of Directors with the National Association of Sports Commissions.