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“True champions have ideals that exceed fame, affluence
and self-promotion,” said Larry Maneely, president of
the board of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
to an audience of over 700 at Mountain View High
School. “They exhibit the character to sacrifice for
the benefit of others, going beyond doing what is easy,
to doing what is sometimes difficult – but is right and
good and honorable,” he said. “Tonight we cheer for
those who have done more than put points on the score
board. We are inspired by more than record books, moved
by stories that show tangible proof of the ‘heart’ of
tonight’s champions.”
Payette,
Idaho born Killebrew, 70, who is regarded as one of the
most prolific power hitters in Major League Baseball
history, was honored with induction for co-founding
Idaho’s Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament, for his
work with the World Children’s Baseball Fair in the U.S.
and Japan and for his efforts with the Harmon Killebrew
Foundation, which benefits groups in Minnesota, Idaho,
Arizona and Haiti.
The
Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament, which honors
Thompson, a teammate of Killebrew's while with the Twins
who lost his battle with Leukemia, has helped raise
nearly $9 million and generated over $20 million in
matching funds primarily for
Boise’s Mountain States Tumor Institute and the
University of Minnesota Cancer Research Center in
Minneapolis. The Foundation, which Killebrew started in
1998 with his wife Nita, has helped raised nearly $1
million for groups such as Gillette Children’s Hospital,
Children’s Specialty Network, Twins Community Fund,
Miracle Fields, Vista Care Hospice and Healing Hands for
Haiti.
During his
22-year career with the Washington Senators, Minnesota
Twins and Kansas City Royals, Killebrew 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.
Killebrew was presented for induction by childhood
friend Ray Looney.
“To
say thank you for this is not enough,” said Killebrew,
the first native Idahoan to be enshrined in Boise.
“After all that has been said here tonight, I am so
inspired to be here tonight with people like Bobby
Martin, Steve Largent and Steve Smith. I am honored and
glad to go in with a class like this.”
Detroit native Smith, 37, who won an Olympic gold in
Sydney and the 2003 NBA World Championship with San
Antonio, was honored for a his $2.5 million contribution
to Michigan State University. The gift, which helped
build a student-athlete academic center named for his
mother Clara Bell Smith, remains the single largest
contribution by a professional athlete to an alma
mater. In 2001, Smith contributed an additional
$600,000 to fully endow the Steve Smith Scholarship
Fund, an annual MSU 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 gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He
is currently a color commentator for Atlanta Hawks games
on FSN. Smith was presented for induction by form
Michigan State basketball coach Jud Heathcote, his
college coach.
“To
talk about what drives me, was my mom. She passed away
my rookie year in the NBA. She is the reason I am here,
my driving force,” said Smith who earned a degree in
marketing at Michigan State before going on to a 14-year
career in the NBA. “The Steve Smith Scholarship Fund is
something I believe in, because it gives someone from my
high school a chance to go to college,” said Smith. “I
have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s
life, just like someone did in mine.”
Tulsa native Largent, 52, was honored for over three
decades of community achievement -- spanning an NFL
career, public service in the United States Congress
and life in the private sector.
Throughout his life, Largent has been active in the
community. At the University of Tulsa, he was a
Young Life student leader, a member of the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was named one
of eight Outstanding Seniors by the school's alumni
board. His community service includes work with
Children's Hospital - Seattle, Salvation Army, Spina
Bifida Association, March of Dimes, United Way,
Wheelchairs for the World Foundation and Habitat for
Humanity. Largent's efforts on behalf of CTIA – The
Wireless Association includes work with the National
Domestic Violence Hotline, Amber Alerts/National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Largent set six career records and earned seven
trips to the Pro Bowl during a 14-year career with
the Seattle Seahawks. When he retired in 1989
he had caught more catches for more yards and more
touchdowns than any player in NFL history.
“I
am greatly appreciative of your recognition of me,” said
Largent who was presented for induction via video tape
by Idaho Governor-elect Butch Otter. “I didn’t come
here to get an honor. I don’t need another trophy at my
house. My purpose was to come here and recognize the
work that many athletes across all sports do to give
back to their communities. We need to be recognizing
the responsible behavior in our country and our
culture,” he said. “I’m here to applaud you, the World
Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.”
Humanitarian Awards
The
annual induction ceremonies also included the
presentation of the Hall’s annual humanitarian awards.
Legendary Georgia football coach Vince Dooley was the
recipient, along with his wife Barbara, of the 2006 Nell
and John Wooden Lifetime Coaching Achievement Award.
Dayton, Ohio’s Bobby Martin, who broke physical limits
and mended racial bridges while playing high school
football without legs, was presented with the Hall’s
Founder’s Award and Nampa Idaho’s Bill Lofholm, a
longtime caretaker of baseball fields in the suburban
Boise community, received the Don Simplot Idaho Award.
Danny
Wuerffel, the Hall’s 2005 Tradition of Excellence Award
recipient, which is presented to a Heisman Trophy winner
who has distinguished himself in his chosen career and
brought honor and distinction to the Heisman Award
program, was recognized for his work with the New
Orleans Desire Street Academy in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina. Boise State University quarterback Jared
Zabransky accepted the award on behalf of Wuerffel.
Boise State University and the Bronco Sports Marketing
Team were honored with the Youth Sports Hero Award
presented by Idaho’s Coalition for Youth Sports. The
Bronco Sports Marketing Team received the award for
their work with the Bronco Bunch, a group of youth in
the Treasure Valley who may battle cancer, illness,
disabilities or difficult home situations.
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, thirty-five
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 Humanitarian Hall of Fame’s 35 inductees
represent 11 different sports
and support charitable causes in 11 philanthropic
categories. They include; Children & Youth, Civil
Rights, Education, Health & Disease, Homelessness,
Hunger & Poverty, Inner City Revitalization,
Overseas Aid, Sports & Recreation, Values in
Education, and Women's Equality in Sport.
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.
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