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Sollenberger passes away

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Don Ketchum
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 24, 2005 04:35 PM

Barry Sollenberger, considered by many to be "the'' authority on high school sports and its history in Arizona, passed away at his home in Tempe on Thursday. He was 60.

In 1970, Sollenberger began publishing a high school football magazine, Phoenix Metro Football, that became a staple as the season began each fall. It was chock-full of information on current teams as well as information and records from decades past. At the time of his death, he was preparing to put annual issue No. 35 to press.

In 1999, Sollenberger joined forces with the Arizona Interscholastic Association, becoming its sports information director and bringing his record-keeping abilities to an even higher profile.

"His name was synonymous with high school sports history in our state,'' said AIA Executive Director Harold Slemmer. "It is a complete shock. How do you possibly fill his shoes? His selfless generosity, his life was a gift to all of us.''

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.