Legends in, Legends out . . .

By Rick Farris
WBHOF Director/Historian


"Who's the Hall of Fame going to induct this year?"
The question came from my buddy Dave, bartender at the Studio City 'Jerry's Deli', on Ventura Blvd., just around the corner from my place.
After taking a hit off my Heineken, I answered . . .
"This year, from my stand point, it's not about who's getting in, but rather who is already in, and seems to have slipped out."

Dave looked at me like I was crazy. I explained.
"First off, we are just in the process of mailing out the ballots, so it'll be a few weeks before we count votes for this years new World Boxing Hall of Fame inductees.
The answer satisfied his original curiosity, but my first comment left him confused. "But, uh, who slipped out?"

As the Lakers-Rockets game played out on several TV's above the bar, I attempted to explain something I really don't understand.
I told him that I am the the WBHOF's historian, and that I noticed that the 'Honor Roll' of Inductees looked a bit slim, and I found several names missing from both the "Boxer" and "Expanded" catagories.

"Do you remember Jimmy Lennon?
Not Jimmy Jr. the guy who's ring announcer for SHOWTIME boxing, but his father, the voice of the Olympic Auditorium back in the day." Dave immedialy answered, "Yeah, he was great. Wasn't he related to the Lennon sisters?" I told him, "That's right, and one of the greatest boxing announcers to ever step into a ring."
Jimmy Sr. was inducted years ago, but his name has somehow slipped off the 'Roll Call' listing all past and president WBHOF Inductees.

Dave didn't understand how that could happen. Neither could I.
In addition to Jimmy Lennon Sr., legendary boxing names such as Marciano's trainer, Charlie Goldman, managers Jack "Deacon" Hurley and Jake Shagrue, champions Ted "Kid" Lewis, Johnny Kilbain and Marty Servo, just to name a few of many.

What happened? I don't know and don't have the time or energy to find out.
My job is to dig out all the missing names, and there are dozens, and put them back onto the 'Roll Call' so it can be updated and accurate for the WBHOF's beloved, but grossly innacurate banquet program.
Before I brought the matter to the attention of the WBHOF board, nobody was aware of it, and nobody cared.

I'm no genius, but I'm smart enough to enlist the help of some of my most valued friends.
Some just happen to be boxing historians, I mean REAL boxing historians, not the guys who have anoited themselves as such after viewing a couple of Joe Louis bouts in their entirety. I've discovered that I have a talent for ferreting out the missing info, but a lot of the answers to this puzzle are being provided by a few legends in their own right, such as California Boxing HOF president and founder, Don Fraser (who was once associated with the WBHOF.)

When Don and I talked yesterday, the WBHOF Inductee in the promoter/matchmaker catagory mentioned, "I wouldn't be surprised to see my own name disappear off the ballot. I used to be a Board member, but left, and there's a guy still there who hates me".
I assured Don that his name would only be eliminated over my dead body. He then dove into the problem and helped me find a few missing legends.
I then receieved a call from John Bardelli, a successful Pacific Northwest attorney, and son of WBHOF inductee, Young Firpo.
John mentioned other names, like a detective seeking out a kidnapped child.
Dan Hanley, an "Honorary" WBHOF board member found discrepancies in the records of boxers, those who have remained on the ballot, with records far inferior to their true records.
Golden State Boxing Association founder, Ray Owens, dug up a few more.

Armed with this info. We are well into fixing the mess left behind from administrations of the past.
It became my goal last year, the moment I discovered the problem.
This year, we will have the first historically correct publication in many years. I'll take great pride in this.
I'll also take great pride in the program cover, which will feature the brilliant art of our own, Roger Esty (Dagosd).

As I looked up, I saw my friend Dave had left. The guy on the other end of the bar wanted another double vodka rocks.
He was a Rockets fan, and Kobe had just hit from the outside for three points.

Kobe isn't the only one to score big this week.
Thanks to a few amigos, I'll score a game winning shot for a few "Legends of Boxing" this year.
We're going to bring them back home, where they belong!