Alabama Sports Hall of Fame facts for kids
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| Established | August 14, 1967 |
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| Location | Birmingham, Alabama, United States |
| Type | Sports museum |
| Collection size | Over 5,000 sports-related objects |
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) is a special museum in Birmingham, Alabama. It tells the story of Alabama's amazing sports history. The museum shows more than 5,000 items. These items are from athletes who were born in Alabama or became famous there. They earned their fame through great sports achievements. The ASHOF was started by a state law on August 14, 1967.
Contents
Honoring Sports Heroes: Membership
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame has honored over 300 people. These are athletes and coaches who made a big difference in sports. Some of them are even considered among the greatest athletes ever!
Famous Athletes You Might Know
Many famous sports stars are in the ASHOF. These include Jesse Owens, Hank Aaron, Joe Louis, and Willie Mays. Other legends are Carl Lewis, Chase Riddle, Don Hutson, Shug Jordan, Howard Hill, and Paul "Bear" Bryant. You can find a full list on the museum's website.
How New Members Are Chosen
Every year, the museum holds a special dinner. At this event, six to eight new people are added to the Hall of Fame. These are people who have helped sports in many ways. At least two of these new members are from an earlier time in sports history. They are called "seniors."
The museum also picks a "Distinguished Sportsman" each year. This is usually someone from Alabama. Sometimes, it can be a "Distinguished American Sportsman." This special honor has been given to people like former president George Herbert Walker Bush and entertainer Bob Hope.
Exploring the Museum: The Facility
The ASHOF is in a large building in downtown Birmingham. It is about 33,000 square feet in size. The museum is next to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. It is also near the Southeastern Conference headquarters. The building you see today was finished in 1992.
What You'll See Inside
The museum's collection is spread out over three floors. There are more than 5,000 items on display. You can see the Heisman Trophies won by Auburn University stars Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson. There is also a special houndstooth hat worn by University of Alabama coach “Bear” Bryant. You will find life-size displays, sports gear, and old uniforms. The museum also has a theater with 75 seats, called the Bryant-Jordan Theater.
Who Leads the Museum
The person in charge of the museum is the executive director. The current director is Scott Myers. He used to be a leader for the Alabama Steeldogs football team. Mr. Myers took over from William Legg. Mr. Legg helped make the museum what it is today when the new building opened in 1992. The museum is now a great example of how a sports museum should look.
The person who takes care of all the items on display is Dr. Avalee Willoughby. She won a special award in 2007 for her work.
See also
- Paul W. Bryant Museum
- Walk of Champions (University of Alabama)
