Governor Doyle will be attending a press conference that will be held for the 51st Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame class as he is presenting 2005 inductee, John Walsh. Living inductees and their presenters will be on hand to answer questions. Ron Vincent, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation will open followed by remarks from the evening's Emcee, Matt Lepay. What:
The 51st Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Class and presenters to appear at a press conference at the Midwest Airlines Center, Ballroom B.
When:
Thursday, October 27, 2005
4:00 pm
Press Conference: Welcome and opening remarks. Hall of Fame members. Ron Vincent, Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation will introduce new class. Remarks from Matt Lepay, ceremony emcee.
4:10 pm
Individual Interviews: Inductees, their presenters, Matt Lepay, Emcee and Wisconsin Sports Development staff will be available.
Who:
INDUCTEES:
Hank Raymonds, former Marquette University Basketball Coach
Jim Gantner, former Milwaukee Brewer
Beth Heiden-Reid, Olympic Bronze Medal winner
PRESENTERS:
George Thompson (Hank Raymonds)
Mark Gantner (Jim Gantner)
Dr. Mike Woods (Beth Heiden-Reid)
Governor Jim Doyle (John Walsh)
Santana Dotson (Reggie White)
OTHER:
Ron Vincent, Executive Director, Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation Matt Lepay, Ceremony Emcee
Where:
The event will take place at the Midwest Airlines Center, Ballroom B 400 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI
Parking
Wisconsin Center District parking lot entrance: 500 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Since 1951 nearly 120 outstanding sports figures have been inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, including Henry "Hank" Aaron, Bart Starr and Sidney Moncrief; leaders like the legendary coaches Earl "Curly" Lambeau, Vince Lombardi and Al McGuire; and renowned announcers from Earl Gillespie to Bob Uecker. Every two years another group of Hall of Fame members is selected and inducted in an awards ceremony during which a large bronze plaque immortalizing each inductee is unveiled.
In 1999 the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation took ownership of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame and the bronze plaques. The Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame was constructed in 2001 and dedicated in partnership with the Wisconsin Center District as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Hall of Fame. Located outside Milwaukee's U.S. Cellular Arena, the Walk of Fame is an outdoor promenade where visitors can view the permanent exhibit of the bronze plaques.
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame is presented by Marine Bank, National Guardian Life Insurance and Time Warner Cable. Supporting sponsors of the event are Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 620 WTMJ AM, Charter Communications and Vincent Commodities. The following organizations have sponsored the Inductee plaques for 2005: Green Bay Packers (Reggie White), Milwaukee Brewers and Brewers Charities (Jim Gantner), Foley & Lardner LLP (John Walsh) and Marquette University (Hank Raymonds).
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 the Wisconsin Sports Foundation, Lighten Up Wisconsin, Shape Up Wisconsin Kids, the Fit Kids Challenge, the Badger State Games, Paddle & Portage and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. WSDC is also the local host of Ironman Wisconsin.