Brewers, Badgers, Fighting Irish and Sailors Named to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2007

The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2007 was announced Friday at a press conference in front of the US Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee. This year's class includes:

• Dick Bennett - Former UW-Stevens Point, UW-Green Bay and UW-Madison head men's basketball coach
• Cecil Cooper - Milwaukee Brewer great and 3-time team Most Valuable Player
• Sen. Herb Kohl - US Senator, Milwaukee Bucks owner and sports philanthropist
• Harry "Buddy" Melges - Internationally known yachtsman and winning helmsman on 1992 America's Cup winning yacht, America3.
• Frederick C. Miller - All-American football player at the University of Notre Dame, sports philanthropist.
• Mike Webster - University of Wisconsin football standout, winner of 4 Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The class of 2007 was introduced by Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame member and former UW-Madison athletic director Pat Richter. Also in attendance were current Hall of Fame members Janis Doleschal, former director of sports and athletics for Milwaukee Public Schools; Hank Raymonds, former Marquette University men's basketball coach and athletic director; George Thompson, former Marquette University and professional basketball player; and Bonnie Blair-Cruikshank, Olympic gold medal winning speed skater. The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place November 9, 2007 at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee. Since 1951 nearly 125 individuals have been inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, including Henry "Hank" Aaron, Bart Starr and Reggie White; leaders like the legendary coaches Earl "Curly" Lambeau, Vince Lombardi and Al McGuire; and renowned announcers from Earl Gillespie to Bob Uecker. Sponsors of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame include National Guardian Life Insurance Company, Time Warner Cable, Midwest Airlines and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. For tickets and more information about The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame visit www.SportsInWisconsin.com. Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation (WSDC) is a nonprofit sports management organization that helps develop sports tourism in Wisconsin and promotes positive lifestyles and physical fitness through amateur athletic events and health education programs. WSDC properties include Lighten Up Wisconsin, Shape Up Wisconsin Kids, the Fit Kids Challenge, the American Family Insurance Badger State Games, and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. WSDC is also the local host of the Ford Ironman Wisconsin triathlon.