Joe Hand Sr.

Joseph Hand Sr. (September 10, 1936 – August 1, 2024) was an American businessman and media executive from Philadelphia.

He was the chairman of Joe Hand Promotions, Inc., a promoter of Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit broadcasts of sporting events, which he founded in 1971.

Early life and career Hand was born in 1936 and raised in the Lawncrest district of Philadelphia. He attended St. William's Middle School and Northeast Catholic High School.

Joe Hand Promotions In 1971, Hand formed his own company specializing in sports promotions, Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. The company went on to become a large TV distributor of pay-per-view boxing, UFC and other events, airing in thousands of establishments around the United States, such as sports bars, restaurants, military bases, universities, cruise ships and oil rigs. The company has been involved in many major boxing championship fights, concerts, wrestling events, and other sporting occasions. The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that "If a bar televises a big fight, it likely has to purchase it from Mr. Hand's company".

Hand remained chairman of the company and continued to work at its office in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, until days before his death in 2024.

Personal life and death Hand married Margaret Joyce on June 29, 1957; she also worked as a police officer. They had two children, and were married until her death on June 27, 2023.

Hand died from COVID-19 on August 1, 2024, at the age of 87.

Awards and recognition Pennsylvania Sports Hall Of Fame (1992) World Boxing Association "Closed Circuit Promoter of the Year" (1996) "Man of the Year" in the King One Veterans Boxers Association(1999) Golden Gloves Hall of Fame (2000) Advisory Board, National Penn Bank (2000) Middle Atlantic Amateur Boxing Association's Hall of Fame (2001) Philadelphia Sports Congress "Wanamaker Award" (2002) Northeast Catholic High School's Alumni Hall of Fame (2005) Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame (2012) Pennsylvania Sports Experience, Board of Trustees (2012) Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2013)