LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Four people who have made significant contributions to Kentucky sports have been honored with induction into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. Class of 2024 graduates are Teddy Bridgewater, Tony Delk, Oscar Combs, and Roy Pickerell.
“The KSHOF Class of 2024 recognizes four outstanding individuals representing a wide range of sports and professions – individuals who have made a significant impact on sports on the federal and national stage,” Louisville Sports Commission President and Chief Executive Officer said Greg Fante, CEO. “This year’s inductees have worked hard to make a difference in their respective fields, and we are proud to honor them and their accomplishments in Freedom Hall, the official enshrining gallery of the KSHOF. I am very happy.”
The Louisville Sports Commission, which owns and operates KSHOF, announced the class as part of Champions Day at Churchill Downs.
“We at Kentucky, along with the passionate Churchill Downs crowd and our colleagues at the Louisville Sports Commission, are extremely proud to honor the induction of four distinguished sports legends into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. Their legacy will be enshrined within Freedom Hall and will be a place of inspiration for generations of Kentuckians who walk this grounds,” said David S. Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues.
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Teddy Bridgewater played quarterback at the University of Louisville from 2011 to 2013. He threw for 9,817 yards and 83 touchdowns as a starter for three years. Bridgewater was named MVP of the 2013 BCS Orange Bowl. He helped lead the Cards to a victory over No. 2 Florida. Bridgewater was drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings and played nine seasons in the NFL. He also suited up for the Panthers, Broncos, Dolphins, and Lions. Bridgewater was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015.
All-American and NCAA Final Four MVP Tony Delk is also included in the Class of 2024. Delk led the University of Kentucky men's basketball team in scoring for three seasons (1994-1996), scoring 1,890 points and still holds the British record for three-pointers. (283). During his stay at UK, Delk and the Wildcats won his SEC Championship three times, the Final Four twice, and also won the 1996 National Championship. He was selected 16th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Delk played for eight teams and made the playoffs seven times.
Four individuals who have made significant contributions to Kentucky sports have been honored with induction into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. The Class of 2024 includes Oscar Combs, author of “Cats' Pause.” (Spectrum News 1/Jonathan Gregg)
Hazard native Oscar Combs began covering British athletics for the Hazard Herald in 1965. In 1976, he founded Cat's Pause, the first independent publication to focus on a major competitive program in the United States (UK). Combs He served as a co-host on the British radio network from 1998. A renowned author with countless awards, Combs was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 2000.
Rounding out the class is Roy Pickerill. Pickerill has worked in Kentucky Wesleyan University's sports information office for 53 years. He started as a student assistant, then served as sports information director for nearly 30 years, and now holds an emeritus position. Pickerill was inducted into his CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 1999, and in 2016 he received CoSIDA's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Four individuals who have made significant contributions to Kentucky sports have been honored with induction into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. The Class of 2024 includes Kentucky forward Roy Pickerell, who is being praised for his work at Wesleyan University. (Spectrum News 1/Jonathan Gregg)
Sixteen sports media professionals from across the state and the “Bygone Era” selection team make up the selection committee that selects this year's Hall of Fame inductees. All Hall of Fame inductees will be honored in September 2024 at Freedom Hall in Louisville.
