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Joseph Hand Sr. (September 10, 1936 – August 1, 2024) was an American businessman and media executive from Philadelphia. He was the chairman of Joe Hand Promotions, Inc., a promoter of Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit broadcasts of sporting events, which he founded in 1971.
Joe Hand Sr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 10, 1936 |
| Died | August 1, 2024 (aged 87) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1967–2024 |
| Known for | Founder and chairman of Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. Promoter of Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit broadcasts |
| Spouse |
Margaret Joyce
(m. 1957; died 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and career
editHand was born in 1936 and raised in the Lawncrest district of Philadelphia. He joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1959, eventually being promoted to Detective in the department's Intelligence Unit. In 1975, he suffered a serious heart attack which required him to leave the police force. Instead he focused on his business interests, which had begun in 1967 when he became a charter shareholder of Cloverlay Corporation, sponsoring Joe Frazier.[1]
Joe Hand Promotions
editIn 1971, Hand formed his own company specializing in sports promotions, Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. The company went on to become a large TV distributor of pay-per-view boxing, UFC and other events, airing in thousands of establishments around the United States, such as sports bars, restaurants, military bases, universities, cruise ships and oil rigs. The company has been involved in many major boxing championship fights, concerts, wrestling events, and other sporting occasions. The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that "If a bar televises a big fight, it likely has to purchase it from Mr. Hand's company".[1]
In January 2021, the company began offering a commercial subscription of ESPN Plus for Business which delivers limited live sports content via DirecTV to commercial establishments.[2][3]
Hand remained chairman of the company and continued to work at its office in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, until days before his death in 2024.[1]
Joe Hand Boxing Gym
editIn 1995, Hand opened the Joe Hand Boxing Gym for children. The gym has boxing rings and equipment, but also a computer center for other educational activities.[4]
Personal life and death
editHand married Margaret Joyce on June 29, 1957; she also worked as a police officer. They had two children, and were married until her death on June 27, 2023.[5]
Hand died from COVID-19 on August 1, 2024, at the age of 87.[6]
Awards and recognition
edit- Pennsylvania Sports Hall Of Fame (1992)
- World Boxing Association "Closed Circuit Promoter of the Year" (1996)
- "Man of the Year" in the King One Veterans Boxers Association(1999)
- Golden Gloves Hall of Fame (2000)
- Advisory Board, National Penn Bank (2000)
- Middle Atlantic Amateur Boxing Association's Hall of Fame (2001)
- Philadelphia Sports Congress "Wanamaker Award" (2002)
- Northeast Catholic High School's Alumni Hall of Fame (2005)
- Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame (2012)[7]
- Pennsylvania Sports Experience, Board of Trustees (2012)
- Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2013)
References
edit- ^ a b c Breen, Matt (August 1, 2024). "Joe Hand, early backer of Joe Frazier and closed-circuit TV impresario, dies at 87". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "ESPN Plus for Business".
- ^ Kohler, Katie (October 21, 2021). "Joe Hand Promotions Still Fighting After 50 Years Thanks To Added Punch From Streaming, Barstool, and Streaming". Feasterville, PA: Play Pennsylvania. Catena Media. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "Joe Hand Boxing Gym is moving out of Northern Liberties after a decade". PhillyVoice. October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Margaret Mary (Joyce) Hand". Bucks County Courier Times. June 30, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Grassi, Emily Rose (August 1, 2024). "Pay-per-view pioneer Joe Hand Sr. has died at 87 after a battle with COVID-19". WCAU-TV. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "PHILLY BOXING HISTORY - Joe Hand Sr. - PA Boxing Hall of Fame". www.phillyboxinghistory.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.