DATE: June 18, 2009

CONTACT: Joe Arbena, 864-656-3990
jose@clemson.edu

WRITER: Ross Norton, 864-656-4810
rnorton@clemson.edu

Sport history society honors Clemson University professor

CLEMSON — The North American Society for Sport History recognized Clemson University professor emeritus of history Joseph Arbena for his “exceptional contributions to the study of sport history” at its 37th annual convention in May.

Arbena, who retired from Clemson in 2006 after 40 years on the faculty, served the society as editor of its “Journal of Sport History” (1993-1996), as a member of its editorial board since 1996, as local arrangements chairman when the society visited Clemson in 1989 and as a participant in numerous programs.  

Arbena also served on the editorial boards of several other journals devoted to sports studies. He was director of the Clemson University Conference on Sport and Society, 1981-1984, bringing together sports celebrities and academics of various disciplines to discuss the nature and meaning of sports. He continues to teach at Clemson each summer semester and most recently taught a Maymester course on the history of baseball.

Arbena has a long record of research and publication devoted to sports in Latin America, including several anthologies and reference books, as well as numerous lectures, articles and book reviews.