FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2003


It's official! FHSAA: Florida High School Athletic Association

GAINESVILLE – Effective 12:01 a.m. today, the Florida High School Activities Association officially became the Florida High School Athletic Association.

The name change, first proposed by the FHSAA Board of Directors more than a year ago, was first approved as a bylaw change by the 2002 FHSAA Representative Assembly, then in statute by the 2003 Florida Legislature, and finally, in the articles of incorporation by a majority vote of member school principals.

The FHSAA was formed in 1920 under the name "Florida High School Athletic Association." The name was changed to replace "Athletic" with "Activities" in 1951 when the Association was given supervision over certain non-athletic activities. The Board of Directors in 1997, at the urging of the legislature, relinquished its oversight of non-athletic activities to once again concentrate solely on athletics.

"This return to our original name is long overdue," said Commissioner Robert W. Hughes. "Quite frankly, most people have referred to us as an athletic association since 1997. We are excited about promoting our old but new name and new logos, and intend to promote interscholastic athletics within this state with the same enthusiasm."

The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of 666 middle, junior and senior high schools.

Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org