2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25105928D

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 668

Offered February 11, 2025

Commending the 2025 inductees into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

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Patrons—Hayes, Clark, Cole, Ennis, Green, Hope, Lopez, Maldonado, Martinez, McQuinn, Mundon King, Obenshain, Owen, Rasoul, Ward, Ware and Watts

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WHEREAS, in 1996, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame was designated the official Sports Hall of Fame of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, located in Virginia Beach, has honored hundreds of Virginia's exceptional athletes, coaches, and media personalities since its inception in 1972; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame celebrates athletic excellence in the Commonwealth, highlights philanthropy through sports, and inspires sports fans through engaging and entertaining programs; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate its 52nd Induction Weekend by honoring the Class of 2025 and the Distinguished Virginian Award recipient on April 25–26, 2025, in Virginia Beach; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is honored to present the Class of 2025 inductees as follows:

The Class of 2025

Brandon Adair

Brandon Adair, a graduate of Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, rewrote the record books for Virginia Wesleyan University men's basketball as the program's all-time leader in points scored, and the second all-time in rebounds. The four-time All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference selection and 2006 National Player of the Year led Virginia Wesleyan University to the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III men's championship. He is the first Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee from Virginia Wesleyan University.

Dan Bonner

Dan Bonner, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attended the University of Virginia, where he was named captain of the men's basketball team and an academic All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection. After a two-year stint as head coach for the University of Virginia women's basketball team, he became a leading media voice for college basketball. Since 1985, he has been a color commentator for every NCAA tournament including the 2000 and 2001 final four and championship games, in addition to having other broadcast roles with ESPN and the ACC Network.

Murray Cook

Murray Cook, a native of Salem, has played a pivotal role in baseball field design and development around the globe. He joined Major League Baseball (MLB) as its official field consultant in 1991, and has overseen the development of professional fields in more than 60 countries. He has managed multiple ballpark projects, including the MLB London Series at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the MLB at Field of Dreams in Iowa, and MLB at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, as well as renovations at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. He has previously been honored as the 1991 Sportsturf Man of the Year, and in 2016, MLB at Fort Bragg was selected as Ballpark of the Year thanks in large part to his contributions.

Ali Krieger

Ali Krieger, a native of Dumfries and a graduate of Forest Park High School, has excelled at every level of soccer. The 2003 Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year went on to become a star on the Pennsylvania State University women's soccer team, earning the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award and Penn State's Most Valuable Player award in 2006. At the international level, she made 108 appearances with the United States Women's National Team, was named to three World Cup squads, and won World Cups in 2015 and 2019. She played in the National Women's Soccer League for 11 seasons, culminating in a championship victory in her final season as captain of Gotham F.C.

Harry Minium, Jr.

Harry Minium Jr., a native of Norfolk and an alumnus of Old Dominion University, has spent more than 40 years as a sportswriter and columnist for Old Dominion University and media outlets such as the Richmond News Leader and the Virginian-Pilot. He is a recipient of numerous writing awards, including a first-place award in 2013 by the Football Writers of America, and has also been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, he was the recipient of the prestigious Abe Goldblatt Award presented by the Norfolk Sports Club.

Joe Smith

Joe Smith, a native of Norfolk, was a force on the basketball court from his time at Maury High School through his professional career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a member of the men's basketball team at the University of Maryland, he was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 1994 and ACC Player of the Year and National Player of the Year in 1995 and was a two-time All-ACC First Team selection. After college, he was drafted number one overall in the 1995 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. He played 16 seasons in the NBA, scoring more than 11,000 points and grabbing more than 6,500 rebounds.

Mike Smith

Mike Smith built a powerhouse football program over the course of 50 years at Hampton High School. He took over as head football coach in 1970 and led the Hampton High School Crabbers to a Virginia High School League-record 12 state championships. His 1996 and 1997 teams were also crowned national champions. In total, he won 506 games as head coach at Hampton High School, joining an elite group of high school football coaches around the country with 500 or more wins. He received the state Coach of the Year award 17 times and was selected as National Coach of the Year in 1996; and

Lou Whitaker

Lou Whitaker, a graduate of Martinsville High School, is one of the most accomplished baseball players to call the Commonwealth home. Over the course of 19 seasons with the Detroit Tigers in MLB, he became known as one of the best middle infielders in the game. The 1978 American League Rookie of the Year, he was also named as an All-Star five times, won three Gold Gloves and four Silver Slugger awards at second base, and was an integral part of the Detroit Tigers 1984 World Series championship team. He finished his career with a .276 batting average, 2,369 hits, 244 homeruns, 1,084 runs batted in, and 1,386 runs scored; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is also honored to present the 2025 Distinguished Virginian Award recipient:

Ed George

Ed George, a graduate of E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg and Ferrum College, played professional football for 11 seasons, four in the National Football League and seven in the Canadian Football League, where he won two Grey Cup championships with the Montreal Alouettes. His impact has been felt away from the gridiron as well, where his success in the financial sector has led to multiple philanthropic endeavors, many of which have been centered on support for student-athletes. The Hall of Fame at Ferrum College bears his name, and he has been honored by his alma mater as a Distinguished Alumnus and was a recipient of the Beckham Medallion, the institution's highest honor; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Brandon Adair, Dan Bonner, Murray Cook, Ali Krieger, Harry Minium, Jr., Joe Smith, Mike Smith, Lou Whitaker, and Ed George hereby be commended for their outstanding achievements in athletics and philanthropy; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and its 2025 inductees as an expression of the House of Delegates' congratulations and admiration for their many contributions to the world of sports.