The Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame (KSHOF) has announced its class of 2023, which will be the 46th class inducted into the Hall of Fame. The announcement was made at a press conference at Freedom Hall, Louisville by the Louisville Sports Commission, which owns and operates KSHOF. This year’s inductees include Tom Leach, a long-time play-by-play commentator for University of Kentucky football and men’s basketball, Brigid DeVries, one of the founding administrators and coaches of Great Britain’s Women’s National Sports, Rick Bozich, a multi-award-winning sports reporter and columnist for the Courier-Journal and his WDRB.com, Chris Lofton, the best 3-point shooter in SEC history and William “Bubba” Paris, Michigan’s All-American and No. 1 pick in the offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers.
The selection committee of 16 sports media professionals from across Kentucky decided this year’s class, and all votes by the selection committee were independently tallied by Dean Dorton, a regional accounting firm, one of Kentucky’s largest accounting and advisory firms, with offices in Louisville, Lexington, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The members of the 2023 KSHOF class will be honored on September 12th at Freedom Hall in Louisville.
The Louisville Sports Commission announced that Freedom Hall is now the official KSHOF enshrining gallery, recognizing the venue’s rich sporting heritage and deepening the connection between Freedom Hall and Kentucky’s sporting heritage. The Louisville Sports Commission’s mission is to attract, produce, host and operate sporting events and activities that improve the quality of life for people in Kentucky.
The Louisville Sports Commission CEO, Greg Fante, said, “This year’s Hall of Fame inductees have a diverse mix of achievements in media, sports, and government. The KSHOF 2023 Class of Honors five outstanding individuals representing a broad range of sports and professions – those who have made a significant impact on the sport on the federal and national stage.”
About the Louisville Sports Commission:
The Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Louisville, Kentucky, with a mission to create a legacy of economic and social vitality through sport. LSC has a positive economic impact on Louisville, enhances the area’s image as a premier sporting destination, promotes active lifestyles, improves the quality of life for local residents of all ages, and enhances the quality of life for local businesses. The LSC attracts and hosts sporting events and activities that bring athletes together.
About the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame:
The Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame (KSHOF) was established in 1963 to honor athletes and athletes who were born in Kentucky or who have made a significant impact in their respective sports-related fields in Kentucky. Each Hall of Fame inductee is recognized with a bronze plaque displayed in the iconic Freedom Hall of the Kentucky Exhibition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. After a hiatus in the 1970s and 1980s, KSHOF was revived. In 2018, the Louisville Sports Commission became the overseer and administrator of all aspects of KSHOF.