The executive director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum paid a visit to the Columbus Kiwanis Club Wednesday to spread the word about the 14-year-old archive and Columbus” contribution.
Michael Rubenstein, a former sports director at WLBT-TV in Jackson, spoke briefly about the induction of Henry Armstrong, a Columbus native who will be one of just two boxers enshrined at the hall following an induction ceremony July 30-31.
Armstrong, who moved with his family to St. Louis when he was 4, held three undisputed titles — featherweight, lightweight and welterweight — and compiled a professional record of 152-29. He was named Boxer of the Year in 1937 and 1938 and later inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
But the first thing Rubenstein did was take a moment to brag about the museum”s funding. It”s a boast everyone can share in because, as Rubenstein said, “not one cent from taxes is spent on this museum.”
The $4.5 million spent to build the museum, which opened July 4, 1996, came from $3.5 million in general obligation bonds from the state and the rest from Coca-Cola Bottling in Mississippi. The land was donated by the city of Jackson. Since its construction, the museum has been funded by private donations.
“As long as the people or businesses of Mississippi want it, the Hall will stay open,” said Rubenstein.
In that same vein, Rubenstein jokingly reminded the Kiwanis members the museum is always accepting donations. But, like the athletes, teams and coaches enshrined in the Hall, Mississippi”s museum is top notch.
“People from in-state say ”I never thought it would be this nice,”” said Rubenstein. “Why shouldn”t it be?”
The 21,542-square-foot metal building that houses the museum, which Rubenstein refers to as “a homely girl in a nice dress,” contains a polished, technology-integrated interior designed to pay a fitting tribute to Mississippi”s athletic greats.
But the real appeal of the Hall of Fame is the inductees.
“We don”t take a back seat to anyone when it comes to the number and caliber of our athletes, teams and coaches,” said Rubenstein.
Armstrong will join world-renowned greats such as Jerry Rice, Walter Payton and Dizzy Dean, but he”ll also join hundreds of lesser-known, yet deserving, Hall-of-Famers.
That, according to Rubenstein, is the beauty of Mississippi”s Hall of Fame; anyone can nominate anyone. Next, a nominating committee and a selection committee refine the list to no more than six inductees per year.
“Black people and white people, country people and city people, rich people and poor people have all produced great athletes in Mississippi,” said Rubenstein. “And anyone can start the nomination process. You have as much power as the athletic director at the University of Mississippi. That”s as fair a process as we can offer.”
Rubenstein points out that a high school student completed the nominating process for Henry Armstrong as part of a class project. Local historians like Glen Lautzenhiser and Rufus Ward carried on the Armstrong campaign.
Armstrong will be inducted posthumously, but those inductees able to attend the ceremony in July will be made available to the public.
“That”s the best way to make the link for the kids of today,” said Rubenstein of the meet-and-greet at the induction ceremony. “If I can get a kid in to see something on Brett Favre and he learns something about Charlie Conerly in the process, that”s wonderful.”
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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