Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
Established in 1951, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame honors distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. The Hall of Fame hosts several annual events, including an induction ceremony to honor new members, nomination luncheons, speaker series breakfasts and more.[1] Bronze commemorative plaques honoring the members of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, including Hank Aaron, Vince Lombardi, Oscar Robertson, Bart Starr and others, are displayed in the Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
History
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 1951 by the Milwaukee Arena (now UWM Panther Arena).[2] It was created to "honor outstanding sports figures whose achievements earned them special acclaim."[3] The Hall of Fame plaques were originally available only to paying customers at the Milwaukee Arena;[4] however for the 50th anniversary in 2001, the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation (WSDC) constructed a Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame outside of the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee so the plaques could be on permanent public display at no cost.[3]
In 2014, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame was acquired by Lammi Sports Management, a Milwaukee-based sports marketing corporation. Shortly after the acquisition, Lammi Sports announced that Wisconsin Hall of Fame LLC will manage and control the assets related to the Athletic Hall of Fame.[1]
2016 Class
On October 27, 2015, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame announced that Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball coach Bo Ryan and Green Bay Packers all-time leading wide receiver Donald Driver were selected for induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame's 65th Anniversary Class. The pair will be inducted during a special event celebrating their careers and contributions to athletics in Wisconsin on April 30, 2016 at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, the site of the first Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame induction event in 1951.[5]
Inductees
There are over 135 people inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Inductees come from a variety of sports, including auto racing, football, basketball, water skiing, bowling, baseball, and bicycling, and various Olympic sports.[2]
A full list of inductees, along with pictures of their corresponding Hall of Fame plaques, can be found on the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame's official website: www.wihalloffame.com.
- A
- Hank Aaron (1988)
- Ned Allis (1956)
- Alan Ameche * (1967)
- Barry Alvarez (2009)
- B
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- C
- Tony Canadeo * (1973)
- Connie Carpenter (2001)
- Cecil Cooper (2007)
- D
- Willie Davis (1988)
- Chuck Daw * (1951)
- LaVern Dilweg * (1967)
- Janis Doleschal (1999)
- Gus Dorais * (1955)
- Donald Driver (2016)
- Red Dunn * (1957)
- F
- Chuck Fenske (1970)
- Jim Fitzgerald * (1999)
- Harold E. Foster * (1970)
- G
- Jim Gantner (2005)
- Don Gehrmann (1981)
- Earl Gillespie * (2001)
- Charles Goldenberg * (1973)
- Burleigh Grimes * (1954)
- Charlie Grimm * (1978)
- H
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- J
- Dan Jansen (1995)
- Conrad M. Jennings * (1958)
- "Badger Bob" Johnson * (1993)
- Mark Johnson (2003)
- Davy Jones * (1963)
- Thomas E. Jones, Sr. * (1953)
- Addie Joss * (1951)
- K
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- L
- Curly Lambeau * (1961)
- Verne Lewellen * (1967)
- Ed "Strangler" Lewis * (1951)
- Vince Lombardi * (1976)
- Fred Luderus * (1957)
- M
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- N
- Ernie Nevers * (1951)
- Albert Nicholas (CEO) (2009)
- Kid Nichols * (1951)
- Ray Nitschke * (1981)
- Andy North (1998)
- O
- P
- Frank Parker * (1960)
- Jane Pettit * (1993)
- Lloyd Pettit * (1993)
- George Poage * (1998)
- John Powless (2009)
- R
- Hank Raymonds * (2005)
- Vic Reinders * (1981)
- Pat Richter (1988)
- Oscar Robertson (1995)
- Fred Roethlisberger (1990)
- Harlan B. "Biddy" Rogers * (1961)
- Pants Rowland * (1964)
- Bo Ryan (2016)
- S
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- T
- Jim Taylor (2001)
- Gorman Thomas (2003)
- George Thompson (2001)
- Fuzzy Thurston * (2003)
- U
- Bob Uecker (1998)
- W
- John Walsh * (2005)
- Mike Webster * (2007)
- Rollie Williams * (1960)
- Ivy Williamson * (1973)
- Red Wilson * (1990)
- Reggie White * (2005)
- Y
- Robin Yount (1995)
- Z
- Robert Zuppke * (1951)
An asterisk (*) indicates a deceased member
See also
- Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame
- Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame
- Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
- Milwaukee Brewers Walk of Fame
References
- 1 2 D'Amato, Gary (December 15, 2014). "State sports Hall of Fame to resume inductions". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- 1 2 Baggot, Andy (November 16, 2009). "2009 Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame inductees in a class by themselves". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- 1 2 "History:Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame". Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ↑ "Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame – Milwaukee, WI". Waymarking. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ↑ D'Amato, Gary (October 27, 2015). "Bo Ryan, Donald Driver worthy of selection to Athletic Hall of Fame". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ↑ "Past Inductees: Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame". Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ↑ "Meet the 2009 Class: Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame". Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ↑ "Walk of Fame Inductees (sortable by name, team, sport, and year)". Wisconsin Center District. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
External links
- Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame official webpage (on Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation website)
- Walk of Fame Inductees webpage (on Wisconsin Center District website) – sortable by name, team, sport, and year