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Largent, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member who set six
career records and earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl
during a 14-year career with the Seattle Seahawks,
is being honored for over
three decades of community achievement -- spanning an
NFL career, public service in the United States Congress
(R-OK) and life in the private sector.
In 1988, Largent was recognized as the NFL Man of
the Year for his commitment to community service and
in 1989, in recognition of a lifetime of
achievement, was awarded the Golden Plate Award by
the American Academy of Achievement. Also in 1989,
Largent received the inaugural Bart Starr Award
presented by Athletes in Action. The award is
annually presented to an NFL player who best
exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in
the home, on the
field and in the community. In 1990, Largent was
named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans by
the Jaycees and was named a University of Tulsa
Distinguished Alumnus. He was inducted into the
university's athletic hall of fame in 1991. Largent
is currently President & CEO of CTIA -The Wireless
Association.
Killebrew,
a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame who is
regarded as one
of the most prolific power hitters in Major League
Baseball history, is
being honored for his commitment to help fund Leukemia
research through Idaho’s Danny Thompson Memorial Golf
Tournament, along with his work as a spokesperson for
the World Children’s Baseball Fair and his founding of
the Harmon Killebrew Foundation, which is committed to
aiding research for pain relief and care management for
the terminally ill.
During a 22-year career
with the
Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins and Kansas City
Royals,
the Payette, Idaho native
was named an American League All-Star 13 times, the 1969
American League Most Valuable Player, and was a six-time
American League home run leader where he is currently
eighth on the all-time list with 573 round-trippers. He
led the twins to the 1965 World Series and 1969 and 1970
ALCS.
Detroit, Michigan native Steve Smith is being recognized
for his $2.5 million in contribution to Michigan State
University that helped to construct a student-athlete
academic center named for his late-mother, Clara
Bell Smith. In 2001, Smith contributed an additional
$600,000 to fully endow an annual Michigan State
University scholarship for high-achieving students from
Detroit’s Pershing High School, which he attended.
After a highly successful collegiate basketball career
as the Spartans’ all-time leading scorer with 2,263
points and receiving First Team All-American honors,
Smith was selected by the Miami Heat as fifth overall
pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. Smith went on to play with
six NBA teams winning the 2003 NBA World Championship
with the San Antonio Spurs and helped the United States
win the Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic
Games. He is currently a color commentator for Atlanta
Hawks games on FSN.
The
Humanitarian Hall of Fame, located on the Boise State
University campus, annually inducts individuals who are
world-class in athletic ability, role models in their
community and have a strong record of humanitarian
efforts. Since President Gerald R. Ford served as its
first honorary chairman in 1994 over 30
sports-humanitarians have been enshrined including
tennis great Arthur Ashe, major league baseball pioneer
Jackie Robinson, NFL coaching legend Tom Landry, the
NBA’s David Robinson, and soccer great Pelé.
The 2006 World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremonies take place Nov. 30 in Boise,
Idaho. Tickets are available at
www.SportsHumanitarian.com.
About The World Sports Humanitarian Hall
of Fame
The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of
Fame (www.SportsHumanitarian.com),
located on the Boise State University campus in Boise,
Idaho, recognizes individuals and organizations from the
world of amateur and professional athletics who, through
their humanitarian efforts, distinguish themselves as
role models in the community.
Since 1994 over thirty role models with
world-class athletic ability and exceptional
humanitarian achievements have been inducted to the
World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Each spring the
induction ceremony includes recipients of an annual
humanitarian awards program that recognizes community
achievement in all corners of the sporting world through
its President’s Award, Pro Team Community Award, Don
Simplot Idaho Humanitarian Award, the Tradition of
Excellence Award presented to a Heisman Trophy winner,
and the Nell and John Wooden Humanitarian Lifetime
Coaching Achievement Award. Each year the Hall of Fame,
in partnership with Boise’s MPC Computers Bowl, honors a
player from each team with its Student Humanitarian
Award. The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is open weekdays
to visitors and humanitarians of all ages. |
