ROLL OF HONOR
Recognizing Greatness at Any Level
AUTUMN LEGENDS Bill Russell (1934-2022) Basketball star / USA If there is one player who popularized the sport of basketball for Americans and set a career path for young black males, it is Bill Russell, who played center for the NBA’s Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. Born William Felton Russell in Monroe, Louisiana, he stood 6 feet 10 inches tall and had a 7-foot-4-inch arm span. These traits enabled him to stand out on the University of San Francisco Dons, which he led to two consecutive NCAA championships; captain the gold medal-winning U.S. national basketball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics; and power the Celtics to a record-setting 11 NBA championships. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a 12-time NBA All-Star, Russell (along with rival Wilt Chamberlain) is one of just two players to have grabbed more than 50 rebounds in a game. He was player-coach of the Celtics in his final three years, the first black coach in the NBA, and the first to win a championship. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Russell’s highest honor was arguably having his #6 jersey retired upon his death in 2022, the only NBA player so honored.
Usain Bolt (b. 1986) Athlete extraordinaire / Jamaica The eight-time Olympic gold medalist is widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. He is a symbol of excellence for young people of all races. Bolt, who was born and raised in the West Indian island of Jamaica, holds the world record in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100-meter relay. He is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100m and 200m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012 and 2016), and he gained worldwide fame for his double sprint victory in world record times at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, making him the first person to hold both records since fully automatic time became necessary. He is the most successful male athlete of the World Championships, having won four titles in the 200m and three in the 100m. Nicknamed “Lighting Bolt” in the sports media, he is a worldclass celebrity and influencer and is the subject of a documentary, I Am Bolt. Since his retirement, Bolt has amassed millions from varied business interests.
FALL 2022
BAVUAL 93
