MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers' Merritt Paulson Receives Sportsperson of the Year Award at 60th Oregon Sports Awards

Published on February 13, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Timbers Owner/President Merritt Paulson was awarded the Slats Gill Award for Sportsperson of the Year as part of the 60th Oregon Sports Awards, it was announced Sunday evening at the Oregon Sports Awards show held in Beaverton, Ore.

The Sportsperson of the Year, an award named after legendary Oregon State coach and administrator Slats Gill, is given to an outstanding coach, administrator or organization from an Oregon-based team at any level of competition during the calendar year.

Named to Sports Business Journal's exclusive "Forty Under 40" class of 2011, Paulson's diligent efforts - an arduous process that began in 2008 - to bring a second major league sports franchise to Portland and to transform JELD-WEN Field into one of the most intimate sports venues in the country came to life during the Timbers' inaugural MLS season in 2011. Under Paulson's leadership, the Timbers, who were awarded Major League Soccer's 18th franchise on March 20, 2009, have sold out all of their regular-season home games (17 straight), developed award-winning marketing campaigns and transformed the region's sporting landscape by creating one of the most authentic and exciting in-game experiences in sports.

Leading into their second MLS season, the Timbers achieved more than a 97 percent renewal rate on season tickets and quickly reached their expanded cap of 14,750 season tickets available for 2012. Additionally, the team has a Season Ticket Waiting List that numbers more than 6,500 fans.

With the honor, Paulson, one of five finalists for the Sportsperson of the Year award, became just the second non-coach to be so-honored in the history of the award, the first since Harry Glickman of the Portland Trail Blazers in 1970. Further, Paulson is the first soccer-related figure to receive the award since 2002 and just the third overall in the sport since the award was founded in 1957. The others are legendary NASL Timbers player and Portland soccer icon Clive Charles (1995, 2002) and NASL Timbers head coach Vic Crowe (1975).

Paulson sits on the boards of the Oregon Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Oregon Sports Authority and Panthera. He and his wife have two daughters and live in the Portland area.

Slats Gill Award/Sportsperson of the Year Winners:

2011: Merritt Paulson - soccer

2010: Chip Kelly - football

2009: Chip Kelly - football

2008: Mike Riley - football

2007: Pat Casey - baseball

2006: Pat Casey - baseball

2005: Pat Casey - baseball

2004: Danny Miles - basketball

2003: Ernie Kent - basketball

2002: Clive Charles - soccer

2001: Mike Bellotti - football

1996: Brad Smith - basketball

1995: Clive Charles - soccer

1994: Rich Brooks - football

1993: Gordie James - basketball

1992: Rick Adelman - basketball

1991: Ad Rutschman - football

1990: Rick Adelman - basketball

1989: Rich Brooks - football

1988: Pokey Allen - football

1987: Pokey Allen - football

1986: Ad Rutschman - football

1985: Jeff Mozzochi - volleyball

1984: Ad Rutschman - football

1983: Ken Hodge - hockey

1982: Ad Rutschman - football

1981: Ralph Miller - basketball

1980: Ralph Miller - basketball

1979: Rich Brooks - football

1978: Ad Rutschman - football

1977: Jack Ramsey - basketball

1976: Darrel "Mouse" Davis - football

1975: Vic Crowe - soccer

1974: Laurence (Doc) Savage - football

1973: Jack Dunn - baseball

1972: Dale Thomas - wrestling

1971: Bill Bowerman - track and field

1970: Harry Glickman - basketball

1969: Dick McCLain - baseball

1968: John Allen - football

1967: Dee Andros - football

1966: Paul Valenti - basketball

1965: Hal Laycoe - hockey

1964: John Lipon - baseball

1963: Joe Huston - football

1962: Bill Bowerman - track and field

1961: Paul Durham - football

1960: Ted Ogdahl - football

1959: Fred Spiegelberg - football

1958: Tom DeSylvia - football

1957: Len Casanova & Tommy Prothro - football

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 13, 2012


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