Hank Aaron Keynote Speaker for Culminating Black History Month Program
February 18, 2003
Contact: °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ News Team
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY, AL — Hammerin' Hank Aaron, baseball's all-time home run king and National Hall of Fame hero, will deliver the keynote address for the Black History Month culminating program Feb. 27.
The entrepreneur and Mobile native will speak at 9:30 a.m. in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ Kellogg Conference Center Auditorium to an audience of middle, high school, college students, faculty and staff on "Black Entrepreneurs Impacting the Future," the theme for the event.
"One of the common threads and messages we want to convey to our audience is a heightened awareness, knowledge and involvement of African-American people in entrepreneurship, beginning with our youth," said °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ President, Dr. Benjamin F. Payton.
"What better role model to accomplish that goal than Aaron, a National Hall of Fame Hero, now entrepreneur," Payton added.
Aaron, 69, is the major league career leader in extra-base hits (1,477), runs-batted-in (2,297) and total bases (6,856). He is tied with Babe Ruth for second in runs scored (2,174) and is third in hits (3,771).
"When I was in a ballpark, I felt...like I was surrounded by angels, and I had God's hand on my shoulder," Aaron once said of his baseball feats, which includes the largest number of career home runs (755).
In the corporate arena, Aaron continues to be blessed as an executive with the Atlanta Braves organization, where he continues to speak out for equal opportunity for African Americans in baseball as managers and in front-office positions.
The winner of three Gold Glove awards who threw and batted right-handed is expected to be an inspiration to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ Golden Tiger Baseball team, which began its season Feb. 4. The Tigers, under the direction of Coach McArthur Shivers, play a double-header in Columbus, Ga., the day before Aaron’s visit.
Aaron’s address is free and is open to the community.
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© °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ 2003