Wayne State University Athletics

Pentecost, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been associated with Wayne State University and Tartar Athletics since enrolling as an undergraduate student in 1944. He is being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding record as Wayne's athletic publicity director from 1948 to 1957. Also, Pentecost is being recognized for his continuing support of Tartar Athletics, Wayne State University and the Detroit metropolitan community. During his undergraduate career Pentecost was the team manager for WSU Athletic Hall of Fame coach David L. Holmes' track teams. In 1948, he received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from Wayne State, and in August of that year joined the University's public relations staff as the school's first full-time athletic publicity director. As the sports publicist he handled all publicity, releases, programs and brochures on Tartar Athletics and its student-athletes. During the 1950's, his responsibilities for sports publicity was reduced as mere emphasis was placed on general news, and in 1957 Pentecost was promoted to assistant director of University Relations, a position he held until 1964. In 1958, Pentecost received a Master of Arts in Speech with a specialization in Radio and Television, also from Wayne State. It was during his tenure as assistant public relations director that Wayne became a state-affiliated institution, and increased demands were mad on the University to provide greater state-wide recognition for WSU. Pentecost left the University briefly for a 13-month stint as a public relations account executive with the firm of Young & Rubicam, Inc., but in1965 University President Clarence B. Hillberry requested that Pentecost assume the duties of director of information services, a position he held until July 1980. As director, Pentecost oversaw the entire operations of information services at the University, including all general media contracts, community and State relations, and production of University publications. He also coordinated public relations for WSU's Centennial Celebration in 1967-68. From 1980-82 he was an executive university editor, publishing the faculty and staff publication, Inside Wayne State, and Wayne State University Alumni News. He was editor of the Alumni News and an alumni officer from 1982-85, and from 1985 until his retirement in 1988, Pentecost served as special assistant to the associate vice president for Alumni Relations. During his career at Wayne, Pentecost trained many students and workers who went on to careers in public relations, including many in professional and collegiate athletics. He also actively covered Detroit's professional teams as well. During the 1950s and 1960s, Pentecost served as Van Patrick's statistician on Detroit Lions' radio and television broadcasts. Pentecost also served as a statistician for the three television networks when they were in Detroit televising pro athletic contests. Pentecost was a long-time member of the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame committee. He is still a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Committee, and is a member of the Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism fraternity, the Detroit Press Club and Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. He was involved with the Council for the Advancement and support of Education (CASE), has handled public relations for the Boy Scouts of America, and has served on the administrative board of the Franklin Methodist Church. Pentecost has received several honors, including the Mike Award in 1975 and 1976 from the Detroit Bi-Centennial Commission, the 1974 Sage Award from the American College Public Relations Society, and the Hungarian Freedom Fighters Support Award in 1960. He also received a recognition award from the American College Public Relations Society in 1950, and a Heritage Foundation Award in 1965. Pentecost has co-authored a book, Michigan's Role in the Civil War-From Bull Run to Appomattox. Pentecost and his wife, Margaret, reside in Birmingham, Michigan. They are the parents of three children, Nancy, Peggy and Paul Jr.