Houston Sports Hall of Fame facts for kids
The Houston Sports Hall of Fame is a special place that celebrates amazing athletes and sports figures from the Houston area. It honors people who have made a huge impact in their sport, whether they played for professional teams, college teams, or even high school teams in Houston. If someone played a sport like boxing or golf, they could be honored if they grew up in the area.
You can find the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in Downtown Houston at a place called GreenStreet. It's a way to remember and appreciate the incredible sports talent that has come from Houston!
Who Gets Honored?
The Hall of Fame honors many different kinds of sports heroes. These can be players, coaches, or even people who helped sports grow in Houston. They come from all sorts of sports, like football, basketball, baseball, golf, boxing, and even auto racing!
Famous Inductees
Many legendary athletes have been welcomed into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame. Here are some of the well-known names and what they achieved:
- Earl Campbell: A powerful football player known as "The Tyler Rose." He was a running back for the Houston Oilers.
- Hakeem Olajuwon: A basketball superstar, often called "The Dream." He was a center for the Houston Rockets and played for the University of Houston.
- Nolan Ryan: A legendary baseball pitcher known for his fast pitches. He played for the Houston Astros and went to Alvin High School.
- George Foreman: A famous boxer and Olympic gold medalist. He is also known for his grill!
- Carl Lewis: An incredible track and field athlete who won many Olympic gold medals. He competed for the University of Houston.
- Mary Lou Retton: A gymnastics champion who won an Olympic gold medal.
These are just a few examples of the many talented people who have been honored.
List of Honored Athletes
Here is a list of some of the amazing athletes and coaches who have been inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame:
| Name | Sport | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earl Campbell | Football | Running back | Oilers |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | Basketball | Center | Rockets, University of Houston |
| Nolan Ryan | Baseball | Pitcher | Astros, Alvin High School |
| Jack Burke, Jr | Golf | ||
| George Foreman | Boxing | ||
| A. J. Foyt | Auto racing | ||
| Dan Pastorini | Football | Quarterback | Oilers |
| Mary Lou Retton | Gymnastics | ||
| Carl Lewis | Track and Field | University of Houston | |
| Rudy Tomjanovich | Basketball | Forward, Head Coach | Rockets |
| Andre Johnson | Football | Wide receiver | Texans |
| Bill Yeoman | Football | Head Coach | University of Houston |
| Guy Lewis | Basketball | Head Coach | University of Houston |
| Jeff Bagwell | Baseball | First baseman | Astros |
| Craig Biggio | Baseball | Second baseman, Catcher, Center field | Astros |
| Sheryl Swoopes | Basketball | Forward | Comets |
| Clyde Drexler | Basketball | Guard | Rockets, University of Houston, Sterling High School |
| Roger Clemens | Baseball | Pitcher | Astros, Spring Woods High School |
| Elvin Hayes | Basketball | Forward, Center | Rockets, University of Houston |
| Bruce Matthews | Football | Guard, Center, Offensive tackle | Oilers |
| Lance Berkman | Baseball | Outfielder, First baseman | Astros, Rice University |
| Cynthia Cooper | Basketball | Guard | Comets |
| Warren Moon | Football | Quarterback | Oilers |
