COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After 28 years, 15 Olympic Games and countless hills, valleys and campfires in faraway lands, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Bob Condron has announced his intention to retire at the end of the year.

Condron, the director of media services for the USOC, said he will retire to pursue other opportunities.

“Exactly,” said Condron. “Like fly fishing high in the Rockies, shooting my age in golf, whatever hole that happens to be, and spending more time in a coffee shop on Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. eating an apple fritter.”

Condron didn’t divulge his age, but said he was conceived and born during World War II.

“In that order,” Condron stated.

Condron joined the USOC on Jan. 2, 1984, the same day he will exit the organization in 2012. He has been involved in planning the media services for Team USA and U.S. delegation for every Olympic Games since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. He has also served at seven Pan American Games, 11 U.S. Olympic Festivals and countless Olympic Trials, World University Games, World Cups and international championships.

He has directed the Olympic Games accreditation process for United States media for the past 10 years.

“Having known and worked with Bob since the last century, I know the USOC won’t be the same without him around every day,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “Bob’s sense of humor, professionalism and willingness to make friends all around the world are traits that everyone in our organization should work to emulate. Bob embodies the true spirit of the Olympic Movement.”

“I’ve never met a person loved by more people than Bob Condron,” said USOC Chief Communications Officer Patrick Sandusky.  “Every student of communications around the country today should look at Bob Condron’s career as a case study of how to make friends and influence people while always being the gentleman in the room. While he is going to be missed around the USOC, we know where to look when we need Bob’s help – area golf courses and trout streams. Few have earned their retirement more than Bob Condron and I wish him all the best.”

Condron has served on the IOC Press Commission for eight years, a committee that approves and counsels Olympic organizing committees on media operations and services for the Olympic Games. He’s one of only two USOC staff members serving on an IOC Commission..

He has been a part of a five-person team appointed by the IOC that has allocated Olympic Games accreditation for 205 National Olympic Committees. He’s been a member of the committee for the past three Olympic Games and the first member from a National Olympic Committee (Torino 2006, Beijing 2008 and London 2012).  

Condron was the United States delegate for the Association of International Sports Press for five years, in addition to organizing the AIPS International Congress in New York City in 2004.

He’s in the Hall of Fame for his University, Texas Tech University, and his profession, the College Sports Information Directors of America.  

Condron joined the USOC staff after serving as the Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Information Director at Southern Methodist University from 1971-83 where he witnessed the various infractions and shenanigans that resulted in the now famous Death Penalty for the Mustangs.  

His letters to thousands of Olympic Games media, which were titled “On the Ground In …” helped prepare a generation of Olympic journalists how to hit the ground running in Olympic cities every year since Salt Lake City in 2002. It was served with a bit of humor and set the tone of friendship and welcome for the U.S. media about to embark on their journey to the Games.

“It was a good 28 years at the best organization in the world,” Condron reflected. “I got to meet Olympic athletes who influenced generations of kids and adults. I got to work with the best and most influential journalists in the world who went about their jobs with pride and professionalism. I got to work with the best people on the planet at the USOC, and I got to watch the sun rise and set on Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.  It was beautiful, and every day was magic.”

Mike Moran, former USOC head of communications, and the man who brought Condron to Colorado Springs from Texas, said:

“No journalist or broadcaster saddled with the staggering responsibility of covering the Olympic Games, from Los Angeles to Vancouver, had a better friend or advocate than Bob. It didn’t matter whether they were from the New York Times or the Anchorage Daily News. Or from Sports Illustrated or Reader’s Digest.

“Bob’s retirement is poignant, because he is one of the last links to the modern rebirth and growth of the USOC after its move to Colorado Springs in 1978. I think he can relax now and begin to understand the depth and significance of his personal contributions to U.S. athletes and the Olympic movement.”

Condron also said he plans to continue a role with the IOC and other Olympic organizations on a part-time basis.

"I know of no other person in the Olympic media industry who is held in such respect as Bob Condron. He will be sorely missed," said Chairman of the IOC Press Commission Kevan Gosper.

"Bob has been the National Olympic Committee representative on the IOC Press Commission ever since I have been in this position,” said Head of Media Operations for the IOC Anthony Edgar. “For me, he has been a confidant and friend. The Olympics has always been the better due to his passion, involvement and expertise." 

And, there’s this other thing in his life, like getting married. 

Lynnette Ryden, a five-time competitor in the Pikes Peak Ascent (running up a 14,000-foot mountain),  and a current staff member at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, will be available for media interviews in the mixed zone at their wedding  in Santa Barbara, Calif.,  in March. The groom will also be available for media requests at that time. Please submit your requests early for one-on-ones.