Another Honor For The Legendary Bill Russell

Youth mentoring, active in human rights, 11-time champion, Hall of Famer (who has never visited the Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA) describes none other than Bill Russell.

The former Boston Celtic has been living longer than he earned a living lacing them up yet it's those years in his life where he can have the most effect. The saying is were all big kids. Why doesn't that apply to the elderly as well. In his mid 70's Bill Russell is still being a kid while being a stand up man and true to Bill Russell. His wisdom and experience is something each and everyone of us could use a little dose of from time to time.

William Felton Russell will be honored with a statue soon erected in Boston, MA. The Boston Celtic Shamrock Foundation and the Bill Russell Legacy Committee will fund the project.

From Julian Benbow, Russell stated via release...

“I am uncomfortable with honors such as this but my years as captain of the Boston Celtics were the proudest moments of my career.Mayor [Thomas] Menino’s Boston has proven to be a city that embraces the diverse contributions of all its people and neighborhoods. I am thankful to the Celtics and all the contributors for the effort to create such a wonderful mentoring program.”



For a man to be honored by the sports Hall of Fame and never set foot in the building you have to believe him.

Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca and president of the Shamrock Foundation said...

“Bill Russell will forever be remembered in Boston, and it’s fitting that the ultimate benefactors of his legacy will be future generations of our beloved city’s youth.”



Bill Russell should be remembered everywhere, from Monroe, LA to San Francisco to wherever. Russell was honored by President Barak Obama with a Medal of Freedom Award earlier this year, there is also the Bill Russell Mentoring Grant Program and Bill Russell Legacy Fund

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A Medal Of Freedom For Bill Russell

Bill Russell is still raking in awards and as always is very humble with each one he's awarded.

The winner of 11 NBA Champions received a Medal Of Freedom from President Barack Obama this week. Russell told the New York Times... when asked if this was his greatest personal honor in his life Russell responded "a close second".

Now those are big words. So what was Russel greatest personal honor, he continues...

“When he was about 77, my father and I were talking,” Russell answered. “And he said: ‘You know, you’re all grown up now, and I want to tell you something. You know, I am very proud of the way you turned out as my son, and I’m proud of you as a father.’

“My father is my hero, O.K., and I cannot perceive of anything topping that,” Russell continued, his voice becoming husky. This being the mature Bill Russell, born on Lincoln’s birthday in 1934, he saw fit to add, “While I am very, very flattered by this honor.”

Bill Russell is a true champion in so many ways and is very deserving of this a honor. Russell has held his ground on a lot of issues from team play to human rights. Hopefully soon he'll make the journey to Springfield, Ma and visit the Basketball Hall of Fame, a place where he has never visited.

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