National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame facts for kids
| Established | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Location | Closed |
| Type | Hall of fame |
The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame was a special place that celebrated amazing U.S. athletes who were of Italian descent. It was a non-profit organization. It started in 1977 when George Randazzo created the Italian American Boxing Hall of Fame. He did this to raise money for youth programs.
After a very successful event honoring 23 Italian American boxing champions, Randazzo decided to create something bigger. In 1978, he founded the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Its first home was in Elmwood Park, Illinois. The first athletes honored included famous names like Lou Ambers, Eddie Arcaro, Charley Trippi, Gino Marchetti, Dom DiMaggio, Joe DiMaggio, and Vince Lombardi. Since it began, more than 230 Italian Americans have been welcomed into this special hall of fame.
From 2000 to 2019, the Hall of Fame and museum was in a large building in Chicago's "Little Italy" neighborhood. Today, the Hall of Fame is located on the north side of Chicago.
How the Hall of Fame Began
In 1977, George Randazzo started the Italian American Boxing Hall of Fame. He wanted to help a local Catholic youth program that needed money. Randazzo loved collecting boxing photos and items. This hobby gave him the idea to organize a special dinner.
This dinner brought together many famous boxers and celebrities. It honored twenty-three former Italian American boxing world champions. Some of these champions were Rocky Graziano, Jake LaMotta, and Willie Pep. The event was a huge success!
A friend, Don Ponte, encouraged Randazzo to create a Hall of Fame for all Italian American athletes. One year later, in 1978, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame was founded. It became a non-profit group focused on education.
First Honorees and Famous Guests
The first induction ceremony was a big event with many stars. The Hall of Fame honored Lou Ambers, Eddie Arcaro, Charlie Trippi, Gino Marchetti, and Dom DiMaggio. They also honored "The Yankee Clipper," Joe DiMaggio. Mrs. Vince Lombardi accepted the award for her late husband, Coach Vince Lombardi.
Over the years, many famous people attended the yearly ceremonies. They came to celebrate amazing Italian American sports heroes. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter even surprised everyone by attending and offering his congratulations! In 1988, the Hall of Fame moved its main office from Elmwood Park to Arlington Heights.
A New Home in Chicago
The Hall of Fame got a fresh start in 1998. This happened with help from Jerry Colangelo, who was a chairman for the Phoenix Suns basketball team. Colangelo, who was honored by the Hall of Fame in 1994, was asked to lead a big project. The goal was to build a new Hall of Fame in Chicago's Little Italy.
Colangelo agreed and brought together many helpful people from all over the country. In 2000, the new building was officially opened. It was named "The Jerry Colangelo Center" to thank him for his hard work and leadership. More than 230 people have been honored and added to the Hall of Fame.
See also
- List of members of the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
