Temple Mourns Passing of Longtime Athletics Administrator Al Shrier

Temple University is mourning the loss of one of its most decorated and distinguished alums and former athletics staff members with the passing of Al Shrier Monday morning. He was 88 years old.

The longest tenured and most decorated sports information director in the history of intercollegiate athletics, Mr. Shrier worked for his alma mater since 1953, the year of his graduation, up until June 2018. His 65 years of service is the longest by any athletics staffer in Temple history and the most by a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) member.

"Throughout the decades, Al Shrier earned the admiration and respect of so many of us who knew him personally," said Temple University President Richard M. Englert. "In the Liacouras Center rafters beside the names and retired numbers of Temple greats is a banner that bears Al's name and an image of the briefcase with which he was so synonymous. He was a larger-than-life figure who dedicated his career and boundless energy to our university, our athletes and our students. I mourn this loss with his loving family, friends and our Temple community."

Mr. Shrier received many honors during his storied career including CoSIDA's Arch Ward Award, presented to the best SID in the nation, in 2010. He is a member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame, the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

"There is no more beloved figure in Temple University, or for that matter Philadelphia collegiate athletics history than Al Shrier," said Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "Al dedicated his life to promoting what is positive in college athletics and in particular Temple student-athletes and coaches. He will be deeply missed."

To commemorate his 50^th Anniversary at Temple, the University presented Al Shrier bobblehead dolls to fans 50 years of age or older attending the men's basketball team's game against Xavier on March 6, 2003. Ten years later, Mr. Shrier was surprised for his 60^th Anniversary with a redecorated Media Room, which is named in his honor in the Liacouras Center, as well as a banner hung in the rafters with his trademark briefcase instead of a number.

So well-loved was Mr. Shrier that for his 80^th birthday, the athletics department held a roast in his honor with many coaches participating in what turned out to be a wonderful night celebrating his lifetime of work on behalf of the countless student-athletes and coaches he tirelessly promoted.

A native of Philadelphia, he was also the recipient of the 2009 Pete Nevins Award for Distinguished Achievement given annually by The Eastern College Athletics Conference-Sports Information Directors Association (ECAC-SIDA). He has also earned ECAC-SIDA's Irving T. Marsh and Katha Quinn Awards.

In 2009, he received the Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award from the Temple School of Media and Communication and was also honored by the Atlantic 10 Conference with its Bob Vetrone Media Award.

Mr. Shrier is a past president of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association and was extremely active in the community, also serving as the president of the Herb Good Club.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ruthie, who was a fixture at all Temple Athletics contests.

Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services on Wednesday (March 6) at Goldstein's Funeral Home, 6410 North Broad Street, Philadelphia. The family will start receiving visitors at 10:30 a.m.

Temple University Athletics

Temple Mourns Passing of Longtime Athletics Administrator Al Shrier

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