Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame facts for kids
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates amazing athletes and sports figures from Wisconsin's history. It's like a special club that honors people who have done incredible things in sports.
Each year, the Hall of Fame holds events. These include a big ceremony to welcome new members. They also have other gatherings like luncheons and talks. You can see special bronze plaques for Hall of Fame members in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These plaques are part of the Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame. Famous names like Hank Aaron, Vince Lombardi, Oscar Robertson, and Bart Starr are honored there.
How It Started
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame began in 1951. It was created by the Milwaukee Arena, which is now called the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena. The main goal was to "honor outstanding sports figures." These are people whose achievements earned them special praise.
At first, you could only see the Hall of Fame plaques if you paid to enter the Milwaukee Arena. But for its 50th birthday in 2001, something cool happened! The Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation built the Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame. This outdoor area is right outside the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee. Now, everyone can see the plaques for free, all the time!
In 2014, a company called Lammi Sports Management took over the Hall of Fame. They are a sports marketing company based in Milwaukee. Soon after, they announced that a new group, Wisconsin Hall of Fame LLC, would manage everything.
Recent Honorees
The Hall of Fame continues to welcome new members who have made a big impact on Wisconsin sports. Here are some of the recent groups of inductees:
Class of 2016
On October 27, 2015, the Hall of Fame announced two new members. They were Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball coach Bo Ryan and Green Bay Packers star wide receiver Donald Driver. These two were officially welcomed into the Hall of Fame on April 30, 2016. The ceremony took place at the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena. This was the same place where the very first induction event happened in 1951.
Class of 2017
Three more amazing athletes joined the Hall of Fame on April 29, 2017. They were Wisconsin Badgers Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, LPGA golf legend Sherri Steinhauer, and Green Bay Packers player Charles Woodson. Also, Bud Selig received a special Lifetime Achievement Award. He was honored for his efforts to help sports and improve the community in Wisconsin. Donald Driver, who was inducted in 2016, hosted the event. It was also held at the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena.
Class of 2019
On January 24, 2019, three more important figures were inducted. They included Wisconsin golf supporter Herbert Kohler Jr., Milwaukee Bucks player Marques Johnson, and Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf. Ron Wolf is also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This ceremony took place at Discovery World in downtown Milwaukee.
Class of 2020
Two more Green Bay Packers legends joined the Hall of Fame on June 5, 2020. They were Brett Favre and Jordy Nelson. The ceremony was held in Madison. Barry Alvarez also received a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was honored for his work in sports at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is the winningest coach in the school's history. He was also recognized for helping the Wisconsin community.
Inductees
There are many people in the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Over 140 people have been inducted! They come from all sorts of sports. This includes auto racing, football, basketball, water skiing, bowling, baseball, and bicycling. Many Olympic athletes are also honored.
You can find a complete list of all the inductees. Pictures of their special plaques are also available. Just visit the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame's official website: www.wihalloffame.com.
See also
- Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame
- Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame
- Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
- Milwaukee Brewers Walk of Fame
