The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame introduced its 12 member class of 2015, Wednesday afternoon, June 3, in the Ballroom of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in downtown Buffalo. Hall of Fame board president, Therese Forton-Barnes, introduced this year’s new members.
This event marked the 25th class to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1991 and brings total membership to 291.
Former National Hockey League star Aaron Miller, one of several inductees on hand for the announcement, offered remarks on behalf of the class. Miller played 14 seasons in the NHL and also earned an Olympic Silver Medal.
Miller was be joined by 11 other former athletes, coaches and administrators into the 2015 class. Four of the 12 will be inducted posthumously as part of the Pride of Western New York.
The 2015 Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame class is:
-Al Bemiller – Buffalo Bills Standout Center/Guard
-Art Clark – WNY Auto Racing Legend
-George Daddario – Buffalo Bisons / Braves PR Director (Pride of Western New York)
-Liz Johnson – Ground-breaking Bowling Champion
-David Koch – New Era Cap Executive (Pride of Western New York)
-Jim Konstanty – National League MVP Pitcher (Pride of Western New York)
-Aaron Miller – NHL and Olympic Defenseman
-Mike Rappl – Award-winning Canisius Softball Coach
-Keith Robinson – Grover Cleveland & Notre Dame Basketball Star
-Robert L. Smith – Renowned Buffalo Sports Photographer
-John Tavares – Buffalo Bandits and NLL All-time Leading Scorer
-Larry Wilson – Buffalo Hockey Bisons All-Time Leading Scorer (Pride of Western New York)
This group will join a rich heritage of native Western New Yorkers, or those who starred in and around the Queen City during their playing days, who are enshrined in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. The 2015 class will be officially introduced this fall at the GBSHOF dinner in the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. The date of that event will be announced later this month.
In addition, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors announced its annual monetary awards from its Amateur Sports Development Fund (see release at the end of this booklet). This year, $11,950 will be distributed to 10 worthy individuals and organizations in need of additional funding in order to supplement their competitive needs.
The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame honors those who have enhanced our lives with their performances and commitment to Western New York sports, an effort surpassed only by the positive impressions they have left on our athletes of tomorrow.
Filed under: Local Headlines
Tagged with: Al Bemiller, Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, Liz Johnson
Sorry, comments are closed on this post.