Arthur Ashe
Yogi Hightower Boothe
Wendell Scott
|
The Hall of Fame Presents
"Beyond the Barriers; African-Americans Building New Traditions for Sports in Virginia”
Exhibit to Run December 26, 2005 – February 27, 2006
(Portsmouth, VA) – The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum will present an exhibit spotlighting several African-Americans from the Commonwealth who have made considerable contributions to the world of sports. Running December 26, 2005 through February 27, 2006 "Beyond the Barriers; African-Americans Building New Traditions for Sports in Virginia” will feature names that many will be familiar with including groundbreaking and record-setting sports figures such as:
DR. ROBERT JOHNSON, MD (Class of 1972) - A Norfolk native, won over fifty trophies in tennis, playing doubles and mixed doubles, including six National Championships. He was better known for his contributions in the development of tennis programs in the United States, particularly for black youth. He personally molded the careers of Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe. (Full Bio)
YOGI HIGHTOWER-BOOTHE (Class of 2001) – A multi-sport star excelling in basketball, swimming and field hockey, the sport in which she represented the US in the Olympic Games in 1984 and 88. At ODU in 1982, she became the first African-American to win the Honda Award, which recognizes the outstanding women’s athlete in the nation for her sport.(Full Bio)
RALPH SAMPSON (Class of 1996) - Dominated the collegiate game during his brilliant four-year (1980-83) career at the University of Virginia. He was the NBA’s number one draft choice and went on to earn NBA Rookie of the Year honors. During his nine year NBA career, he helped lead Houston to the 1986 NBA finals and later played for the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and Washington Bullets.(Full Bio)
WENDELL SCOTT (Class of 2000) - The first black man to compete in the all-white sport of stock car racing in 1952. He won his first race in Richmond despite being knocked and bumped out of the way by other drivers who felt he had no place competing in the same race. Scott’s had 128 career wins in all divisions and 506 Grand National starts.(Full Bio)
KENNY EASLEY (Class of 1998) – A multiple sport star at Chesapeake’s Oscar Smith High School and a three-time consensus All-American at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1981, he was the Seattle Seahawks first round pick in the NFL draft and earned honors as NFL All-Rookie and AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He followed up his first year in grand fashion, starting a four-year string of All-Pro, All-AFC and All-NFL selections.(Full Bio)
WILLIAM LEONN “DICK” PRICE (Class of 2001) - CIAA Track Coach of the Year from 1971-1974 and guided the Spartan squads to NCAA Division II national titles in 1973 and 1974. He was NAIA Football Coach of the Year from 1974-1976. In 1979, the Virginian-Pilot/Ledger Star sportswriters named Dick Price the Sports Figure of the Decade.(Full Bio)
|
