The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame is a sports hall of fame for the U.S. state of Kentucky established in 1963.[1] Individuals are inducted annually at a banquet in Louisville and receive a bronze plaque inside Louisville's Freedom Hall.[2] The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame other wise known as the Kentucky Sports Hall of fame, is a non-profit organization funded by the Kentucky Lottery and owned and operated by the Louisville Sports Commission.[3]
Honorees have included Louisville native Muhammad Ali. A three-time world champion and six-time Golden Glove recipient, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics (at age eighteen) and turned professional later that year.[4] [5] Also included is American football player and coach Bo McMillin (who played for Centre College in Danville, Kentucky);[6] and basketball player and coach Pat Riley, who played in college for the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team.[7] While at the University of Kentucky, Riley managed to average a double double during his entire career there. He is also a ten-time NBA champion, winning one ring as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers and the rest as a coach and an owner in the NBA. Coach Riley was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. Bob Baffert an American racehorse trainer who trained the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Baffert's horses have won a record seven Kentucky Derbies, seven Preakness Stakes, three Belmont Stakes, and three Kentucky Oaks. Most recently inducted. A more recent inductee Dwane Casey inducted in the 2021 class who is the head coach for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association. He is a former NCAA basketball player and coach, having played and coached there for over a decade before moving on to the NBA.
The 2013 class included people such as Jerry Carroll who was a golf professional, Donna Bender a student-athlete/athletic director at Sacred Heart Academy, University of Louisville basketball player Pervis Ellison, Calvin Borel who was a Kentucky horse racer, Pro football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers Dwayne D. Woodruff, and Tennis player Julie Ditty.[8]
Inducted in the 2015 class were tennis player Mel Purcell,(he captured the 1980 NCAA doubles title with Rodney harmon and was named an all-American.) women's basketball coach Paul Sanderford, basketball player Sharon Garland, college basketball manager and King of the Bluegrass Men's Basketball Tournament founder and director Lloyd Gardner, Major League Baseball umpire Randy Marsh, track and field athlete Boyd Smith, and Lexington's Keeneland Race Course.[9] Scott Davenport, the current men's basketball coach at Bellarmine University was also inducted.
The 2016 class included American football player Shaun Alexander, basketball player Darel Carrier, college basketball coach Scott Davenport, basketball player Kyra Elzy, high school basketball coach Philip Haywood, Kentucky Wesleyan basketball play-by-play announcer Joel Utley, and the Lakeside Swim Club.[2] Kyra Elzy is a Kentucky native and currently holds the position as the University of Kentucky's Women's Basketball Head Coach. She also played basketball for the University of Tennessee and assisted for their team after her career.
| Calvin Borel | Susan Bradley-Cox | Lloyd Gardner | Shaun Alexander | Mike Battaglia | Bob Baffert | Derek Anderson | Pete Browning | |
| Jerry Carroll | Charles "Red" Crabtree | Sharon Garland | Darel Carrier | Howard Beth | Sam Ball | Deion Branch | Anna May Hutchison | |
| Julie Ditty | Stan Hardin | Randy Marsh | Scott Davenport | Rodger Bird | Bob Beatty | William Exum | Clarence "Cave" Wilson | |
| Pervis Ellison | Bill Miller | Mel Purcell | Kyra Elzy | Rob Bromley | Bernie Bickerstaff | Ralph Hacker | ||
| Alvin "Bo" McMillin | Paul Rogers | Paul Sanderford | Phillip Haywood | Swag Hartel | Nick Hayden | Willis Augustus Lee | ||
| Donna Bender Moir | Rudell Stitch | Shandelier Boyd Smith | Joel Utley | Kenny Klein | Ken Ramsey | Nate Northington | ||
| Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff | Valhalla Golf Club | Keeneland Race Course | Lakeside Swim Club | Dennis Lampley | Sarah Ramsey | |||
| Marion Miley |
The 2021 Selection Committee has the following members:[10]
The Hall of fame has been honoring athletes for the past 58 years. These are some of the athletes inducted in the past 6 years. Here is the link to the full list of inductees.
| Dwane Casey | 2021 | Morganfield, KY | University of Kentucky | Basketball | |
| Elmore Smith | 2021 | Macon, GA | Kentucky State University | Basketball | |
| John Asher | 2021 | Leitchfield, KY | Western Kentucky University | Horseracing | |
| Keith Madison | 2021 | Brownsville, KY | Western Kentucky University | Baseball | |
| Rachel Komisarz Baugh | 2021 | Warren, MI | University of Kentucky | Swim | |
| Romeo Crennel | 2021 | Lynchburg, VA | Western Kentucky University | Football | |
| Anna May Hutchison | 2020 | Louisville, KY | University of Wisconsin-Parkville | Baseball | |
| Clarence "Cave" Wilson | 2020 | Horse Cave, KY | Tennessee State University | Basketball | |
| Pete Browning | 2020 | Louisville, KY | – | Baseball | |
| Derek Anderson | 2019 | Louisville, KY | University of Kentucky | Basketball | |
| Deion Branch | 2019 | Albany, GA | University of Louisville | Football | |
| Nate Northington | 2019 | Bowling Green, KY | University of Kentucky | Football | |
| Ralph Hacker | 2019 | Richmond, KY | University of Kentucky | Football | |
| Willis Augustus Lee | 2019 | Natlee, KY | Naval War College | Sport Shooter | |
| William Exum | 2019 | Rock Island, IL | Kentucky State University | Track | |
| Bernie Bickerstaff | 2018 | Benham, KY | University of Rio Grande | Basketball | |
| Bob Baffert | 2018 | Nogales, AZ | University of Arizona | Horse Training | |
| Bob Beatty | 2018 | Butler, MO | Missouri Southern State University | Football | |
| Ken and Sarah Ramsey | 2018 | – | – | Horse Training | |
| Nicky Hayden | 2018 | ||||
| Sam Ball | 2018 | ||||
| Dennis Lampley | 2017 | ||||
| Howard Beth | 2017 | ||||
| Kenny Klein | 2017 | ||||
| Marion Miley | 2017 | ||||
| Mike Battaglia | 2017 | ||||
| Rob Bromley | 2017 | ||||
| Rodger Bird | 2017 | ||||
| Swag Hartel | 2017 | ||||
| Darrell Carrier | 2016 | ||||
| Joel Utley | 2016 | ||||
| Kyra Elzy | 2016 | ||||
| Lakeside Swim Club | 2016 | ||||
| Philip Haywood | 2016 | ||||
| Scott Davenport | 2016 | ||||
| Shaun Alexander | 2016 | ||||
| Keeneland Race Course | 2015 | ||||
| Lloyd Gardner | 2015 | ||||
| Mel Purcell | 2015 | ||||
| Paul Sanderford | 2015 | ||||
| Randy Marsh | 2015 | ||||
| Shandelier Boyd Smith | 2015 | ||||
| Sharon Garland | 2015 | ||||
| Bill Miller | 2014 | ||||
| Charles "Redd" Crabtree | 2014 | ||||
| Paul Rogers | 2014 | ||||
| Rudell Stitch | 2014 | ||||
| Stan Hardin | 2014 | ||||
| Susan Bradley-Cox | 2014 | ||||
| Valhalla Golf Course | 2014 | ||||
| Alvin "Bo" McMillin | 2013 | ||||
| Calvin Borel | 2013 | ||||
| Donna Bender Moir | 2013 | ||||
| Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff | 2013 | ||||
| Jerry Carroll | 2013 | ||||
| Julie Ditty | 2013 | ||||
| Pervis Ellison | 2013 | ||||
| Angel McCoughtry | 2012 | ||||
| Booby Watson | 2012 | ||||
| Churchill Downs | 2012 | ||||
| Homer Rice | 2012 | ||||
| Hugh Durham | 2012 | ||||
| Lee Corso | 2012 | ||||
| Ricky Robey | 2012 | ||||
| Seth Hancock | 2012 | ||||
| Artis Gilmore | 2011 | ||||
| Bunny Daugherty | 2011 | ||||
| Ed Kallay | 2011 | ||||
| George Tinsley | 2011 | ||||
| Jerry May | 2011 | ||||
| Phil Roof | 2011 | ||||
| Rex Chapman | 2011 | ||||
| Cornelius "Buddy" Demling | 2010 | ||||
| Dan Neal | 2010 | ||||
| Donna Wise | 2010 | ||||
| Jeff Brohm | 2010 | ||||
| Lillie Mason (Stockton) | 2010 | ||||
| Michael Waltip | 2010 | ||||
| Mike Praff | 2010 | ||||
| Wilbur Hackett | 2010 | ||||
| Booby Keith | 2009 | ||||
| Dan Ulmer | 2009 | ||||
| Marty O'Toole | 2009 | ||||
| Mary Jean Wall | 2009 | ||||
| Mike Casey | 2009 | ||||
| Patti Jo Hedges-Ward | 2009 | ||||
| Travis "The Machine" Grant | 2009 | ||||
| Bob White | 2008 | ||||
| Dale Kindsey | 2008 | ||||
| Jaime Walz-Richey | 2008 | ||||
| Jamal Mashburn | 2008 | ||||
| Joe Federspiel | 2008 | ||||
| Joe Kendall | 2008 | ||||
| Tubby Smith | 2008 | ||||
| William S. Farish | 2008 | ||||
| Bill "Mr. Wildcat" Keightley | 2007 | ||||
| Chris Redman | 2007 | ||||
| Clarence "Big House" Gaines | 2007 | ||||
| DeJuan Wheat | 2007 | ||||
| Jeff Mullins | 2007 | ||||
| Kenny "Sky Walker" Walker | 2007 | ||||
| Myra Van Hoose Blackwelder | 2007 | ||||
| Ron Kordes | 2007 | ||||
| Secretariat | 2007 | ||||
| Tim Couch | 2007 | ||||
| Allan Houston | 2006 | ||||
| Bob Schneider | 2006 | ||||
| Clemette Haskins | 2006 | ||||
| Doug Flynn | 2006 | ||||
| Elmore Just | 2006 | ||||
| Hillerich and Bradsby | 2006 | ||||
| Jenny Hansen | 2006 | ||||
| Pat Riley | 2006 | ||||
| TOm Jurich | 2006 | ||||
| Adrian Smith | 2005 | ||||
| Art Still | 2005 | ||||
| Dr. Bob Davis | 2005 | ||||
| Darrell Wayne Luckus | 2005 | ||||
| Greg Page | 2005 | ||||
| Woodie Fryman | 2005 | ||||
| 1974–75 Kentucky Colonels | 2005 | ||||
| Bill Spivey | 2004 | ||||
| Don Lane | 2004 | ||||
| Doug Buffone | 2004 | ||||
| Howard Crittenden | 2004 | ||||
| Jim McDaniels | 2004 | ||||
| Jimmy Feix | 2004 | ||||
| Tamara McKinney | 2004 | ||||
| Tom Meeker | 2004 | ||||
| Ukari Figgs Moore | 2004 | ||||
| Anne Combs | 2003 | ||||
| Dermontti Dawson | 2003 | ||||
| Jack Harbaugh | 2003 | ||||
| Johnny Meihaus | 2003 | ||||
| Kenny Davis | 2003 | ||||
| Roy. Bowling | 2003 | ||||
| Van Vance | 2003 | ||||
| Will Wolford | 2003 | ||||
| Alfred "Sonny" Collins | 2002 | ||||
| Danny Sullivan | 2002 | ||||
| Guy Strong | 2002 | ||||
| John Owens | 2002 | ||||
| Mo Moorman | 2002 | ||||
| Patricia Joen "Patti" Cooksey | 2002 | ||||
| Richie Farmer | 2002 | ||||
| Rodney McCray | 2002 | ||||
| Wes Strader | 2002 | ||||
| Bill Gatti | 2001 | ||||
| Billy Reed | 2001 | ||||
| Charles Ruter | 2001 | ||||
| Johnny Cox | 2001 | ||||
| Lee Rose | 2001 | ||||
| Lisa Harrison | 2001 | ||||
| Tom Hammond | 2001 | ||||
| Vernon Hatton | 2001 | ||||
| Wesley Cox | 2001 | ||||
| Bobby Nichols | 2000 | ||||
| Bud Olson | 2000 | ||||
| Gay Brewer | 2000 | ||||
| Jim Host | 2000 | ||||
| King Kelly Coleman | 2000 | ||||
| Lou Johnson | 2000 | ||||
| Pat Day | 2000 | ||||
| Torri Murden-McClure | 2000 | ||||
| Charles "Jock" Sutherland | 1999 | ||||
| Darrell Waltrip | 1999 | ||||
| Derrick Ramsey | 1999 | ||||
| Dwight Gahm | 1999 | ||||
| Joe Jacoby | 1999 | ||||
| Lea Wise Prewitt | 1999 | ||||
| Steve Cauthen | 1999 | ||||
| Wade Houston | 1999 | ||||
| Bill Olsen | 1998 | ||||
| Ellie Brown Moore | 1998 | ||||
| Frank Minnifield | 1998 | ||||
| George Blanda | 1998 | ||||
| John Tong | 1998 | ||||
| Larry Gilbert | 1998 | ||||
| Jim Bolus | 1998 | ||||
| John Y Brown | 1998 | ||||
| Susan Sloane-Lundy | 1998 | ||||
| Denny Crum | 1997 | ||||
| Derek Smith | 1997 | ||||
| Don Brumfield | 1997 | ||||
| Earl Cox | 1997 | ||||
| Gene Rhodes | 1997 | ||||
| Jim Green | 1997 | ||||
| Larry Conley | 1997 | ||||
| Phil Simms | 1997 | ||||
| Darrell Griffith | 1996 | ||||
| Don Fightmaster | 1996 | ||||
| Jim Reid | 1996 | ||||
| Kyle Macy | 1996 | ||||
| Paulie Miller | 1996 | ||||
| Steve Meilinger | 1996 | ||||
| Valerie Still | 1996 | ||||
| William T. Young | 1996 | ||||
| Bill Arnsparger | 1995 | ||||
| Cliff Barker | 1995 | ||||
| Donna Murphy | 1995 | ||||
| James Edward (Ted) Bassett, III | 1995 | ||||
| Karl Schmitt Sr. | 1995 | ||||
| Kenny Rollins | 1995 | ||||
| Otto Knop | 1995 | ||||
| Phil Rollins | 1995 | ||||
| Tom Thacker | 1995 | ||||
| Dicky Lyons | 1994 | ||||
| Frank Selvy | 1994 | ||||
| Geri Grigsby | 1994 | ||||
| Howard Schnellenberger | 1994 | ||||
| Ralph Kurcheval | 1994 | ||||
| Dr. Rudy Ellis | 1994 | ||||
| Tom Jackson | 1994 | ||||
| Bob Gain | 1993 | ||||
| Charles "Cotton" Nash | 1993 | ||||
| John Dromo | 1993 | ||||
| Lou Michaels | 1993 | ||||
| Mack Miller | 1993 | ||||
| Mary Terstegge Meagher | 1993 | ||||
| Ron King | 1993 | ||||
| Sam English | 1993 | ||||
| Alex Groza | 1992 | ||||
| Bobby Laughlin | 1992 | ||||
| Jeff Van Note | 1992 | ||||
| John Gaines | 1992 | ||||
| Mike Barry | 1992 | ||||
| Roy Kidd | 1992 | ||||
| Susie Shields White | 1992 | ||||
| Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman | 1992 | ||||
| Charles Martin Newton | 1991 | ||||
| Dave Cowens | 1991 | ||||
| Don Gullett | 1991 | ||||
| Jack Givens | 1991 | ||||
| Johnny Unitas | 1991 | ||||
| Keene Daingerfield | 1991 | ||||
| Steve Hamilton | 1991 | ||||
| Vito "Babe" Parilli | 1991 | ||||
| Amos Martin | 1990 | ||||
| Clem Haskins | 1990 | ||||
| Dan Issel | 1990 | ||||
| Jack Ryan | 1990 | ||||
| Jerry Claiborne | 1990 | ||||
| Louie Dampier | 1990 | ||||
| Louise Wilson | 1990 | ||||
| Warner L. Jones Jr. | 1990 | ||||
| Arthur Boyd "Bull" Hancock Jr. | 1989 | ||||
| Garnis Martin | 1989 | ||||
| Jimmy Ellis | 1989 | ||||
| Joe B. Hall | 1989 | ||||
| Joe Fulks | 1989 | ||||
| John Turner | 1989 | ||||
| Sherman Lewis | 1989 | ||||
| Alfred "Butch" Beard | 1988 | ||||
| Betty Rowland Probasco | 1988 | ||||
| Billy Evans | 1988 | ||||
| David Russell "Gus" Bell | 1988 | ||||
| Letcher Norton | 1988 | ||||
| Mike Silliman | 1988 | ||||
| Paul "Bear" Bryant | 1988 | ||||
| Ralph Carlisle | 1988 | ||||
| Sanford T. Roach | 1988 | ||||
| Cawood Ledford | 1987 | ||||
| Charles Tyra | 1987 | ||||
| Clint Thomas | 1987 | ||||
| Eddie Arcaro | 1987 | ||||
| Harry Lancaster | 1987 | ||||
| Ted Hornback | 1987 | ||||
| William H. King | 1987 | ||||
| Jack Coleman | 1986 | ||||
| Jim Bunning | 1986 | ||||
| Joe Guyon | 1986 | ||||
| John Oldham | 1986 | ||||
| Paul McBrayer | 1986 | ||||
| Stella Gilb | 1986 | ||||
| Tommy Bell | 1986 | ||||
| Woody Stephens | 1986 | ||||
| Ben Allyn Jones | 1985 | ||||
| Frank Beard | 1985 | ||||
| Muhammad Ali | 1985 | ||||
| Ralph Beard | 1985 | ||||
| Westley Unseld | 1985 | ||||
| Bernard (Peck) Hickman | 1975*** | ||||
| Bernie Shively | 1975 | ||||
| Blanton Collier | 1975 | ||||
| Charles Talton "Turkey" Hughes | 1975 | ||||
| Claude Sullivan | 1975 | ||||
| Cliff Hagan | 1975 | ||||
| Earl Ruby | 1975 | ||||
| Frank Camp | 1975 | ||||
| Frank Ramsey Jr. | 1975 | ||||
| Leonard Lyles | 1975 | ||||
| Lou Tsioropoulos | 1975 | ||||
| Nick Denes | 1975 | ||||
| Paul Hornung | 1975 | ||||
| Theodore A. Sanford | 1975 | ||||
| Wathen R. Knebelkamp | 1975 | ||||
| William L. Kean | 1975 | ||||
| Eros Bolivar "Cy" Barger | 1966** | ||||
| Raymond T. Baer | 1966 | ||||
| Adolph Frederick Rupp | 1964* | ||||
| Edgar Allen Diddle | 1964 | ||||
| Samuel Paul Derringer | 1964 | ||||
| Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler | 1963 | ||||
| Charles "Uncle Charley" Moran | 1963 | ||||
| Colonel "Matt" Winn | 1963 | ||||
| Earle Combs | 1963 | ||||
| Ellis Johnson | 1963 | ||||
| Forrest Sale | 1963 | ||||
| Harold Reese | 1963 | ||||
| John Simms Kelly | 1963 | ||||
| Nathaniel John Cartmell | 1963 | ||||
| Roscoe Goose | 1963 | ||||
| Wallace Clayton "Wah Wah" Jones | 1963 | ||||
| William Anderson Alexander | 1963 |
**Selection on hiatus 1967–1974