|
Nell and John Wooden Lifetime Coaching Achievement Award
The
Nell and John Wooden Award is presented each fall to a
coach along with his or her spouse who have made
exceptional contributions to their players and their
futures. Former University of Georgia football coach
and athletic director Vince Dooley is the 2006
recipient. As Georgia head coach from 1964 to 1988,
Dooley guided the Bulldogs to 201 victories where he
ranks as only the 9th coach in NCAA Division
I history to record more than 200 wins. Under his
leadership and the support of his spouse, Georgia
captured six SEC titles, made 20 bowl appearances and in
1980 won the NCAA championship.
Dooley, a National College Football Hall of Fame
inductee, coached a Heisman Trophy winner (Herschel
Walker, 1982), a Maxwell Award winner (Walker, 1982),
and Outland Award winner (Bill Stanfill, 1968), 40
First-Team All-Americans and 10 Academic All-Americans.
He was named NCAA National Coach of the Year by every
major poll in 1980 and by Chevrolet-WTBS in 1982.
During his
tenure, seven of his players earned the prestigious
National Football Foundation post-graduate scholarship
and 11 former players received equally-coveted NCAA
post-graduate scholarship. Seventy-seven of his players
earned Academic All-SEC recognition.
“As
role models and surrogate parents, the Dooleys had a
significant impact with on-field and life success of
Georgia football players,” said World Sports
Humanitarian Hall of Fame founder Myron Finkbeiner.
“The Dooleys are a team that exemplifies the environment
of support that is so very important to Nell and John
Wooden.”
Founder’s Award
The
Founder’s Award is presented to individuals who, through
sports, make a difference in their community but
otherwise may not be well-known. The 2006 recipient
Bobby Martin has achieved what few once thought was
possible – playing football without legs.
At
17-years-old, Martin, who was born with a rare form of
Caudal Regression Syndrome - leaving him without legs at
birth, set a standard of courage at Dayton, Ohio’s
Colonel White High School by not just playing football –
but excelling.
The
3-foot tall, 110-pound nose tackle, propelling himself
with only arms, made use of quickness and a low center
of gravity to “run” the 40 in 5.8-seconds, outpacing
heavier linemen on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
The
2006 ESPY winner for best Male Athlete with a Disability
was even once removed from play by officials claiming he
was in breach of the rules requiring players to wear
thigh pads, knee pads and shoes. The decision was later
reversed.
Turning
disability to advantage, Martin finished
his senior season with 41 assisted tackles, 7 solo
tackles, 3 sacks (6 hurries), and a fumble recovery.
Off the field, he
spoke-out
against drugs, gangs and weapons and helped mend racial
fences that divided his inner-city school.
“Football leveled life’s playing field for Bobby
Martin,” said Finkbeiner. “Bobby’s accomplishments on
the field and within his school mended fences and built
bridges. They are among the most courageous in sport.”
Don Simplot Idaho Award
The
Don Simplot Idaho Award is presented annually to a
resident of the State of Idaho whose contribution to
sports in Idaho should not go unnoticed. The 2006
recipient Bill Lofholm of Nampa has spent the past 25
years as a volunteer groundskeeper at Nampa’s Rodeo Park
and works to improve conditions at other youth
playgrounds and sports facilities in the community.
In
1981, following a career in civil engineering, Lofholm,
now 93, set out to revitalize the ball field, which had
fallen into disrepair after years of over use.
Today, thanks to his countless volunteer hours repairing
bleachers, painting light poles and nurturing infield
grass in the heat of summer, the park is once again a
jewel in the Treasure Valley, and hosts some 50 American
Legion and Babe Ruth games each year along with serving
as home field for Nampa High School. For his
commitment, the baseball diamond at Rodeo Park was named
Bill Lofholm Field in his honor.
“Bill Lofholm felt that Nampa kids needed something
better, so he took this project on himself,” said
Finkbeiner. “He is a proud example of an Idahoan that
represents the humanitarian spirit.”
The
Tradition of Excellence Award annually recognizes a
Heisman winner,
who has distinguished himself in his chosen career and
brought honor and distinction to the Heisman Award
program. 1996
Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel, the 2005 recipient, will
also be honored at the induction ceremonies for his work
in relocating displaced students at the inner-city New
Orleans Desire Street Academy in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina.
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.
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. |
