History
Formally called the S. Rae Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year Award, this trophy was established in 1950 by the Hickok Manufacturing Company of Rochester, NY, in memory of the company's founder.
The trophy, an alligator-skin belt with a huge buckle of solid gold buckle, an encrusted 4-carat diamond, and 26 gem chips, was valued at $10,000 to $15,000. It took 250 man-hours to produce it at the Hickok plant, which manufactured upscale belts, wallets, and other men's accessories.
For the first 21 years, the Hickok Belt was presented at the annual children's charity dinner given by the Rochester Pres-Radio Club.
In 1971, the Tandy Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas, purchased Hickok Manufacturing and also acquired rights to the belt. The presentation was then made in larger cities, including Chicago and New York.
The Hickok Belt award was discontinued after 1976.