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The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame honors distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. The Hall of Fame hosts several annual events, including an induction ceremony to honor new members, nomination luncheons, speaker series breakfasts and more.^[1] Bronze commemorative plaques honoring the members of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, including Hank Aaron, Vince Lombardi, Oscar Robertson, Bart Starr and others, are displayed in the Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

History

The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 1951 by the Milwaukee Arena (now UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena).^[2] It was created to "honor outstanding sports figures whose achievements earned them special acclaim."^[3] The Hall of Fame plaques were originally available only to paying customers at the Milwaukee Arena;^[4] however for the 50th anniversary in 2001, the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation (WSDC) constructed a Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame outside of the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee so the plaques could be on permanent public display at no cost.^[3]

In 2014, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame was acquired by Lammi Sports Management, a Milwaukee-based sports marketing corporation. Shortly after the acquisition, Lammi Sports announced that Wisconsin Hall of Fame LLC will manage and control the assets related to the Athletic Hall of Fame.^[1]

67th Anniversary Class

On October 27, 2015, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame announced that Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball coach Bo Ryan and Green Bay Packers all-time leading wide receiver Donald Driver were selected for induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame's 65th Anniversary Class. The pair was inducted during a special event celebrating their careers and contributions to athletics in Wisconsin on April 30, 2016, at the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena, the site of the first Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame induction event in 1951.^[5]

68th Anniversary Class

Wisconsin Badgers Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, LPGA legend Sherri Steinhauer, and Green Bay Packers player Charles Woodson were inducted as part of the 68th Anniversary Class on April 29, 2017. Bud Selig was also honored for his efforts to advance athletics and better the community in the state of Wisconsin with the Lifetime Achievement Award.^[6] 2016 inductee and Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Donald Driver served as the MC for the event, which again took place at the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena.

69th Anniversary Class

Wisconsin golf contributor Herbert Kohler Jr., Milwaukee Bucks player Marques Johnson and Green Bay Packers general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ron Wolf were inducted into the 69th Anniversary Class of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame on January 24, 2019, at Discovery World in downtown Milwaukee.

70th Anniversary Class

Green Bay Packers players Brett Favre and Jordy Nelson were selected for induction into the 70th Anniversary Class of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame on June 5, 2020, in Madison. Barry Alvarez will also be honored for his efforts to advance athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, for being the winningest coach in the school's history, and for bettering the community of Wisconsin with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Inductees

See footnotes^[7]^[8]^[9]

There are 143 people inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Inductees come from a variety of sports, including auto racing, football, basketball, water skiing, bowling, baseball, and bicycling, and various Olympic sports.^[2]

A full list of inductees, along with pictures of their corresponding Hall of Fame plaques, can be found on the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame's official website: www.wihalloffame.com.

O

Pat O'Dea * (1951)
Jim Otto (1998)

P

Frank Parker * (1960)
Jane Pettit * (1993)
Lloyd Pettit * (1993)
George Poage * (1998)
John Powless (2009)

R

Hank Raymonds * (2005)
Vic Reinders * (1981)
Pat Richter (1988)
Oscar Robertson (1995)
Fred Roethlisberger (1990)
Harlan B. "Biddy" Rogers * (1961)
Pants Rowland * (1964)
Bo Ryan (2016)

S

Walter C. Sanger (1961)
Joey Sangor * (1967)
Dave Schreiner * (1951)
Bud Selig (2001)
Al Simmons * (1951)
Johnny Sisk * (1970)
Billy Sixty * (1970)
Warren Spahn * (1973)
Bart Starr * (1981)
Sherri Steinhauer (2017)
Christian Steinmetz * (1957)
Steve Stricker (2024)
Robert Stuckert * (1990)
Billy Sullivan * (1953)
Guy Sundt * (1958)
Judith Sweet (2009)

T

Jim Taylor (2001)
Gorman Thomas (2003)
George Thompson (2001)
Fuzzy Thurston * (2003)

U

Bob Uecker (1998)

W

John Walsh * (2005)
Mike Webster * (2007)
Reggie White * (2005)
Rollie Williams * (1960)
Ivy Williamson * (1973)
Red Wilson * (1990)
Ron Wolf (2019)
Charles Woodson (2017)

Y

Robin Yount (1995)

Z

Robert Zuppke * (1951)

An asterisk (*) indicates a deceased member

References

^ ^a ^b D'Amato, Gary (December 15, 2014). "State sports Hall of Fame to resume inductions". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Baggot, Andy (November 16, 2009). "2009 Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame inductees in a class by themselves". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "History:Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame". Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
^ "Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame – Milwaukee, WI". Waymarking. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
^ D'Amato, Gary (October 27, 2015). "Bo Ryan, Donald Driver worthy of selection to Athletic Hall of Fame". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
^ "Historic Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Announces 66th Anniversary Induction Class of Ron Dayne, Sherri Steinhauer and Charles Woodson; Bud Selig to be Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award". Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
^ "Past Inductees: Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame". Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
^ "Meet the 2009 Class: Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame". Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
^ "Walk of Fame Inductees (sortable by name, team, sport, and year)". Wisconsin Center District. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Brett Favre inducted into Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame". Pro Football Hall of Fame. August 25, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
^ "State Hall of Fame to install 6 members". Stevens Point Journal. July 17, 1993. p. 10.
^ Hoffman, Gregg (October 15, 1993). "Kulwicki's induction emotional". Kenosha News. p. 24.

External links

Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame official webpage (on Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation website)
Walk of Fame Inductees webpage (on Wisconsin Center District website) – sortable by name, team, sport, and year