History
HISTORY
In 1951 the new Milwaukee Arena and Auditorium inaugurated the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame to honor outstanding sports figures whose achievements earned them special acclaim. Every two years another group of Hall of Fame members was selected and inducted in an awards ceremony during which a large bronze plaque immortalizing each inductee was unveiled.
In 1999 the WSDC took ownership of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame and the bronze plaques. The Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame was constructed in 2001 and dedicated in partnership with the Wisconsin Center District as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Hall of Fame. Located outside Milwaukee's U.S. Cellular Arena, the Walk of Fame is an outdoor promenade where visitors can view the permanent exhibit of the bronze plaques.
Since 1951 nearly 130 individuals have been inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, including Henry "Hank" Aaron, Bart Starr, Reggie White, Bonnie Blair and Sidney Moncrief; leaders like the legendary coaches Earl "Curly" Lambeau, Vince Lombardi and Al McGuire; and renowned announcers from Earl Gillespie to Bob Uecker.
In 2002 WSDC invited the people of Wisconsin to vote for a Hall of Fame inductee. This was the first time in the Hall of Fame's history that Wisconsin sports fans participated in the selection process. Former Green Bay Packer Fuzzy Thurston was the top vote getter, the "peoples' choice" and a fitting "first" for the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
2005 saw five new members take their rightful places among the greats in the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame; Jim Gantner, Beth Heiden-Reid, Hank Raymonds, John Walsh and Reggie White.
2007 inductees included Dick Bennett, Cecil Cooper, Sen. Herb Kohl, Harry "Buddy" Melges, Jr., Frederick C. Miller, and Mike Webster.