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Quick Facts
WHAT
The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame annually
inducts individuals who are world-class in athletic
ability, role models in their community and have a
strong record of humanitarian efforts. They
represent "All that is good is sport."
The Hall also presents a
series of national humanitarian awards to community
focused athletes and teams. The awards include
the USA WEEKEND Most Caring Youth Coach Award, Tradition of Excellence Award in cooperation with the
Heisman Trophy Trust, Nell & John Wooden Lifetime
Coaching Achievement Award, Pro Team Community Award
recognizing community-focused teams in Major League
Baseball, NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Soccer and
NASCAR, Founder's Award, Roady's Humanitarian Bowl
Student Humanitarian Award and Idaho Award.
Learn more
>>
WHY
Our Mission: "To promote and recognize athletes who
are role models and humanitarians for the purpose of
inspiring individuals of all ages to reach their
full potential."
WHO
The Class of 2007 includes NASCAR veteran Kyle Petty,
eight-time NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo and
seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Edgar
Martinez.
Thirty-eight
sports-humanitarians have been enshrined in the
World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame 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
and the Harlem Globetrotters.
2007: Kyle Petty (NASCAR), Dikembe Mutombo
(Basketball),
Edgar Martinez (Baseball)
2006: Steve Largent
(Football), Harmon Killebrew (Baseball), Steve Smith
(Basketball)
2005: Drew Bledsoe (Football), Louis Zamperini
(Track & Field) , Kathy Kusner (Equestrian)
2004: Jesse Owens (Track & Field), Jackie Robinson
(Baseball), Babe Didrikson-Zaharias (Golf)
2003: Steve Young (Football), Harlem Globetrotters
(Basketball)
2001: Johann Koss (Speed Skating), Andrea Jaeger
(Tennis), A.C. Green (Basketball)
2000: Mary Lou Retton (Gymnastics), Nate Archibald
(Basketball), Kirby Puckett (Baseball)
1999: Tom Landry (Football), Wilma Rudolph (Track &
Field), Tony Gwynn (Baseball)
1998: Pelé (Soccer), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Track &
Field), David Robinson (Basketball)
1997: Billy Mills (Track & Field), Kevin Johnson
(Basketball), Mel Blount (Football)
1996: Bonnie Blair (Speed Skating), Kip Keino (Track
& Field), Pat McCormick (Diving)
1995: Dale Murphy (Baseball), Roberto Clemente
(Baseball), Julius Erving (Basketball)
1994: Chi Chi Rodriguez (Golf), Arthur Ashe
(Tennis), Rafer Johnson (Track & Field)
WHERE
Located on the Boise State University campus in
Boise, Idaho, the World Sports Humanitarian Hall
of Fame shares space with Boise State's Allen
Noble Hall of Fame in Bronco Stadium, home of
the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl.
WHEN
Each year the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of
Fame inducts a new class of humanitarian
athletes at ceremonies in Boise, Idaho.
The 2007 induction ceremonies took place June
20.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Humanitarian athletes are annually submitted to
the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
Selection Committee for consideration. The
committee includes:
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Athletic Representatives |
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Media Representatives |
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Baseball - Dale Murphy |
Hockey - Brett
Hull |
Bob Costas (NBC
Sports / HBO) |
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Basketball - Sam Jones |
Motor Sports - Davey Hamilton |
Frank Deford (HBO / Author)
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Bowling - Mike Aulby |
Soccer - Dennis Phelps |
Mickey Herskowitz (Journalist / Author) |
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Equestrian - David O'Connor |
Tennis - Stan Smith |
Jim Nantz (CBS
Sports) |
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Figure Skating - Linda Fratianne |
Track & Field -
Dick Fosbury |
Rick Reilly (Sports Illustrated) |
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Football - Jerry Kramer |
Volleyball - Rudy Suwara |
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Golf - Peter Jacobsen |
Water Sports -
Pat McCormick |
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Gymnastics - Nadia Comaneci |
Winter Sports - Christin Cooper |
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DID YOU KNOW?
Humanitarian
Hall of Fame Inductees Represent 12 Sports
World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame inductees
represent 12 different sports and a variety of
sports organizations. Humanitarian Hall of
Fame inductees hail from the following
organizations: Olympic Games (14), NBA (6),
Major League Baseball (6),
NFL (5), Golf (2),
Tennis (2), NASCAR (1), and Major League Soccer (1).
Humanitarian
Hall of Fame Inductees Support Causes in 11
Philanthropic Categories
The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame's inductees 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.
Humanitarian
Hall of Fame Inductees
in Olympic Games
Fourteen inductees
of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
have represented their countries in the Olympic
Games. Among them are
Steve Smith (USA, Basketball),
David Robinson (USA, Basketball), Kip Keino
(Kenya, Athletics), Rafer Johnson (USA,
Athletics), Olav Koss (Norway, Speed Skating),
Bonnie Blair (USA, Speed Skating), Pat McCormick
(USA, Diving), Billy Mills (USA, Athletics),
Jackie Joyner-Kersey (USA, Athletics), Wilma
Rudolph (USA, Athletics), Mary Lou Retton (USA,
Gymnastics), Jesse Owens (USA, Athletics), Kathy
Kusner (USA, Equestrian) and Louis Zamperini
(USA, Athletics).
Humanitarians and the Continent of Africa
Olympic gold
medalist Kip Keino was inducted as a part of the
Class of 1994 for his work to establish an
orphanage in his native Kenya, while NBA
All-star Dikembe Mutombo's $15 million pledge to
help build the
Biamba Marie
Mutombo Hospital and Research Center
in his home, the Democratic Republic of Congo,
earned the NBA All-star a place in the Class of
2007.
World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame and
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl
The inspiration for Boise's Roady's Humanitarian
Bowl cam from the World Sports Humanitarian Hall
of Fame. Today, the Roady's Humanitarian
Bowl and the Humanitarian Hall of Fame share a
close relationship with the hall serving as the official
philanthropy of the bowl game.
WHAT THEY ARE
SAYING
George H.W. Bush
41st President of the
United States
Honorary Chairman of the
World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
“I am honored to serve
in the capacity of honorary chair of the World
Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame,” said Bush. “So
many of us enjoy sports as participants and
spectators but fall short in recognizing the
extraordinary humanitarian commitments made by so
many of our favorite athletes.
“This fine organization recognizes our most admired
professional and amateur athletes and sports
organizations – helping us to understand the
significance of being role models and to set
positive examples through community service,” he
said.
“I applaud the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of
Fame for recognizing our community leaders in
athletics and will always believe that it is never
too late to follow the oldest rule in sports – ‘that
it’s how you play the game that counts’.”
Gerald R. Ford
38th President of the
United States
First Honorary Chair of
the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
"It's my hope
this award will someday enjoy the same stature as
the Heisman Trophy and the Nobel Peace Prize, by
honoring individuals for their commitment to
human-kind in addition to their contribution to
sports. It's about time that those who excel on the
field of life receive a true, meaningful honor for
their skills and spirit."
Steve Rushin
Sports Illustrated
“In 1994 (Myron) Finkbeiner founded a hall of
fame for "humanitarian athletes," which sounds like
a classic sports oxymoron, along the lines of
‘forward lateral’… Finkbeiner, who coached at
Pasadena College for 10 years, recruited retired
athletes such as Jerry Kramer, Dale Murphy, Floyd
Patterson and Stan Smith to the Hall's selection
committee -- jock-strapped St. Peters, guarding the
Hall's gates…”
Jemele Hill
Orlando Sentinel
“Here's a challenge I'd like to issue to the
media: For one day, let's report only on athletes
who are doing good things. It would make our days a
lot less nauseating”.
Myron Finkbeiner
Founder, World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
"Many of our most recognized athletes make
positive impacts in their communities through their
humanitarian efforts, yet their acts of selflessness
are often not recognized... The Humanitarian Hall of
Fame endeavors to showcase our role-model athletes
who are humanitarians and preserve their legacy."
Billy Mills
1964 Olympic Gold
Medalist
World Sports
Humanitarian Hall of Fame
Class of 2007
"If Kip Keino (Class of
1994) never had made it out of the first round - had
never won an Olympic race - he'd still be the
world's greatest Olympian ever for what he's done
with his life."
Honorable David Bieter
Mayor, City of Boise
Remarks Prior to the 2005 Induction Ceremonies
"At a time when the sports pages are increasingly
dominated by reports of scandal and questionable
behavior, our Hall of Fame casts a spotlight on
those extraordinary individuals whose physical
talent and moral character make them positive role
models for kids and adults alike… another
opportunity to underscore the oldest rule in sports:
'It's how you play the game that counts'."
MEDIA CONTACTS
Larry Maneely
President, Board of Directors
World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
208-343-7224
e-Mail |
Mike McQuaid
McQuaid & Co. Strategic Communications
206-262-7301
e-Mail |
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