Thursday, June 11, 2015

BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- After nearly half a century as sports information director in the Athletics Department at Western Washington University, Paul Madison is retiring effective Sept. 30. Making that announcement on Thursday, June 11, was WWU director of athletics Steve Card.

“Paul is an institution in himself,” said Card. “His commitment and contributions to Western and the Athletics Department are unparalleled. He has been the one constant in our department for 48 years, bridging generations of student athletes. He will be sorely missed.”

During his time at WWU, Madison was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame in 2011, one of just two SIDs from the state of Washington to earn that honor. He also received a 25-year award from that organization.

“Paul Madison carries living history of athletics not only in his head but in his heart,” said Dr. Eileen Coughlin, WWU Senior Vice President and Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services. “Western is forever grateful for his commitment and professionalism in representing Western athletics.”

Madison was the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Ike Pearson Award winner in 1993, given annually by the NAIA-Sports Information Directors Association to honor outstanding contributions to the profession, and has received 43 CoSIDA and NAIA publications awards, including eight Best in the Nation.

The 67-year-old Madison is a WWU alumnus, graduating with the school’s first journalism class in 1971. He has served as the school’s SID for 40 years on a full-time basis, after five as a student and two in a part-time role.

“I’ve been very blessed to be in a position where I wake up every morning looking forward to going to work,” said Madison, who received the WWU President’s Exceptional Effort Award in 2010.

Madison was chair of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors Committee for nine years (2001-10). He also served one year (2000-01) as College Division Representative (West Region) on the CoSIDA Board of Directors and two terms as Area I Representative on the Executive Committee of the NAIA-SIDA.

During his time at WWU, Madison also served as publicity director for the Evergreen Conference for five years, the Northwest Women's Basketball League for three years, and the Washington Intercollegiate Basketball Association for one year.

Madison’s time at WWU may not yet be totally over. He has had discussions about serving part time in another capacity in Athletics.

Madison is a 1966 graduate of Ferndale High School. He and wife Geri Forsberg, who is a member of the English department at WWU, have one child, son Aaron 16.