4/12/13 – Remarks for KHSAA Hall of Fame

April 12, 2013 Commissioner's Perspective

As I come here to night to bring you these brief greetings, I cannot help but believe that the founders, sponsors, staffs and visionaries of this great Hall of Fame are smiling. Those that are still with us, and those that have gone before us, would look upon this class as the very core of what we should be doing in recognizing our high school athletic heritage. If you don’t believe it, take a random ordered look around at the fantastic range of talent in tonight’s class:

 We have:

• The outstanding All round athlete from Western Kentucky who was all-state in three sports and who has been far too long getting his due from this Hall;
• A young track phenom who was second fastest among his own siblings when he started running and later became America’s fastest human
• A man who dedicated his entire career to students as a middle school coach, three-sport high school referee, and a teacher to younger officials
• A man whose visions of opportunities for students and persistent desire for excellence allowed him to excel as a tennis coach and help re-start the state championships after World War 2
• A baseball coaching legend from Etown with more than 700 wins and legions of young men’s lives that he shaped
• A basketball coach from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky who has worked tirelessly for more than four decades to be sure students had opportunities to participate
• A girls’ basketball star from Northern Kentucky who when she was playing and wanted to score, simply couldn’t be stopped, and now gives her time and talent to shape the next generation of girls’ stars
• A tennis star from Northeastern Kentucky who, when she stepped on the single’s court against her opponents, they knew they were already beaten
• A long time coach in track and field and cross country who continues today to give back to the sport and constantly models the phrase, “servant leadership”.

 Yes, I would say this is one time we all have to agree, the Hall of Fame selection committee got it right with their induction class. Neither the KHSAA nor this Hall of Fame, can focus on a single sport. While basketball and track and field were our original two sports, we must constantly recognize that the Association has grown to where we now sponsor forty championships in 12 sports and 4 sport activities and the participants in each of those groups are just as deserving of our time, talents and attention. We must recognize and appreciate the past, but we cannot live there. Today’s times are among some of the most difficult financially that our schools and this organization have faced and as the saying goes, it will likely get worse before it gets better. Our challenge as administrators, coaches, officials and even fans, is to keep our single focus on the opportunities for students during those short times they have in our programs, and be happy if adults also benefit along the way.

I also cannot stand here tonight without another brief moment of recognition and Reflection. This hall is a little emptier tonight. In the last year, we have lost several inductees from past classes, including former Commissioners Louis Stout and Billy V. Wise. We continue to think about and pray for, the families of these two outstanding leaders, along with the other members of this hall who have left us since last year. And we especially pray tonight for one of the patriarchs of this program who continues to bravely battle illness, the gentleman from the Appalachian mountains who regularly spoke to this group, mr. dee dawahare, as well as all the members of that great family.

Best tip I was ever given about speaking to a group like this, was to make sure you are finished speaking before the audience is finished listening. Hopefully, I have accomplished that. But I hope that tonight, as you look at the variety of this class, and the outstanding accomplishments of these great individuals, that you will constantly help keep our focus on the kids of today, who will fill these audiences tomorrow. The students in high school sports and activities today are tomorrow’s leaders. In every respect- school, community, civic, state, national and international. Nothing is a better training ground than high school sports and activities. Let’s all do our part.