Cards announce creation of Adele Harris Scholarship

The Cardinals on Wednesday announced the creation of the “Adele Harris Scholarship” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Harris becoming the first African American woman to hold a front office position in the NFL.

The $10,000 fund will be awarded annually to assist a graduating high school student in Arizona who is pursuing a career in sports.

“This scholarship serves two main purposes,” Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “It recognizes the valuable role that Adele played within our organization for more than a quarter of a century and also connects her to future generations who aspire to follow in her footsteps. We are grateful for the opportunity to do both of those things.”

Harris spent 26 years in a variety of public and community relations roles within the Cardinals organization before retiring in 2001. A Chicago native, she was raised in St. Louis and joined the Cardinals in 1971 as an assistant in the PR department. She left the club to pursue a degree in business management and returned in 1979 as a publicity assistant.

By 1980, Harris became Director of Community Relations and was instrumental in the team’s civic efforts when it relocated to Arizona in 1988. She played a key role in the formation of Cardinals Charities, which was launched in 1990 as a vehicle to support programs designed to improve the quality of life and enhance opportunities for children, women and minorities in Arizona.

Harris passed away in 2007 at the age of 65.

Individuals interested in applying for the scholarship can do so at www.azcardinals.com/scholarship.