Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame announces 2007 Class of Inductees
DALLAS, TX— The Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2007's eleven newest inductees are an elite class of history making athletes and coaches:
Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson; former Dallas Cowboy and Super Bowler
Harvey Martin (posthumously); former Dallas Cowboy, Super Bowl co-MVP, and Dallas South Oak Cliff H.S. standout
Calvin Hill; former Dallas Cowboy and Four-time Pro-Bowler
Derek Harper; former Dallas Maverick all-time franchise assist leader
Micheal Williams; NBA Championship Detroit Piston, Baylor University All-American, and Dallas Carter H.S. standout
Nolan Richardson; NCAA University of Arkansas Championship Coach
Larry Centers; former Arizona Cardinal and Pro-Bowler
Roosevelt Leaks; University of Texas standout, College Football Hall of Famer, and former NFL Indianapolis Colt & Buffalo Bill
Beverly Humphrey; NCAA Prairie View A&M University Track star, current Lancaster ISD Coach,
Dr. Thurmin Robins; NCAA Southern University Swimming Record-holder
The inaugural “Rube Foster” award recipient, presented to a non-African-American for unselfish dedication and contributions to the success of those in Black sports history, will be awarded to former Dallas Carter H.S. Coach and DISD Athletic Director, Kedric Couch.
The 12th Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame Banquet and Auction will be held Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway in Dallas, Texas. From noon – 2p.m. the day of the Banquet, the African American Museum presents A Family Day and Sports Clinic, featuring current and former inductees.
Children and their families meet the athletes, and can secure photos and autographs. In addition to the public recognition of these sports figures at the annual Banquet, the Hall of Fame’s objectives are to collect and preserve objects documenting the history of the Texas African-American athlete, create a permanent exhibition on the subject, and to develop educational programs that benefit both children and adults. Proceeds from the Banquet and Auction benefit the education programs and exhibitions of the African American Museum.
The Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame (TBSHOF), housed at the African American Museum, was established to chronicle the sports history contributions made by African Americans. It was established in 1996 to honor coaches and athletes of high character and athletic achievement, who are either Texans by birth or by athletic participation (collegiate or professional), and who have made recognizable contributions to African American culture and/or history. The general public submits the nominees, and a panel of judges (including sports/media journalist) makes the final selection.
The Hall of Fame includes legendary Dallas Cowboy Stars such as Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Preston Pearson, Mel Renfro, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Robert Newhouse, Rayfield Wright, Billy Joe Dupree, Jethro Pugh, and Everson Walls. The Hall of Fame also includes other heroes and heroines such as State Senator Royce West, 1966 “Glory Road” Championship Basketball UTEP Team, Coach Hensley Sapenter, Ervin Garnett, Coach Jackie Carr, Jolanda Jones, Spud Webb, Rolando Blackmon, Spud Webb, Earl Campbell, Ernie Banks, Zina Garrison Jackson, Elvin Hayes, Jerry Levias, Coach James “Bo” Humphery (Founder TSU Relays), and William Nicks.
Other luminaries include 1968 NBA number one draftee and three-time All-American, Elvin “Big E” Hayes; NFL Hall of Famer, the late Dick “Night Train” Lane; former Negro Leaguers Bill Blair and Ernie Banks (Chicago Clubs); Olympiads: Rafer Johnson (also a charter member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame), Gold Medalist Fred Newhouse, and Track team head coach Barbara Jacket.
The Museum is also supported, in part, by funds from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, The Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.
Admission
Admission to the African American Museum is free (except for groups of ten or more).
Group Tours
Tours may be scheduled for groups of ten or more.
To book a tour call 214 219-2049
Hours
Tuesday – Friday, 12 noon – 5:00 pm (Open until 9:00 p.m. on First Fridays)
Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Closed Mondays (except for MLK Jr’s Birthday) and some holiday’s. Hours are extended during the Texas State Fair.
Season Sponsors of the African American Museum are, AT&T, American Airlines, American Express, Bussey Trucking, CHASE, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of North Texas, ExxonMobil, Foundation for Community Empowerment, Harvey House, Hilton Anatole, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, State Fair of Texas, Texas Instruments, The Dallas Morning News, The MLH Children’s Fund, Twenty Something, and Wells Fargo Bank.
Corporate Partners of the African American Museum are, After School All-Stars, Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Wanda Charley, Comerica Bank-Texas, DC TV, Friendship West Baptist Church, Frito-Lay, Inc., State Representative Helen Giddings, Good Street Baptist Church, Guaranty Bank, Haynes & Boone LLP, Kenneth and Kay Jarvis Foundation, Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, Mary Matthews, Liz Maxwell, Janice Nwkobia, Nationwide Insurance, Neiman Marcus, Oncor Electric Delivery, Jack &Aileen Pratt Foundation, Southwest Housing, Tenet Health Care Foundation, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, The Williams Group, and The Warrior Group Inc.
