Cawood Ledford and Joel Utley should be in the Basketball HOF; how do I get them nominated?

Estil · August 13, 2011 5:20PM

I'm sure there's some people here who know full well who Cawood Ledford is:

Cawood Ledford's Wikipedia article

And given his 39 years of being the "Voice of the Wildcats" on the radio for one of the greatest college basketball programs ever (he was there for Kentucky's 1958 and 1978 championships and the 1966 "Rupp's Runts"), I for one am SHOCKED that he is not yet in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Now some of you may now be asking "Who the heck is Joel Utley?" Well, you could say he's Division II's version of Cawood Ledford. Joel Utley has been the voice of the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers for going on 51 years (still active) and has been with the program for all eight of Wesleyan's championships. I know him personally (he was a regular customer of mine when I used to work for Kroger) and he is an absolute class act all the way and he more than deserves to be enshrined while he's still alive to enjoy the honor (sadly Mr. Ledford passed away ten years ago).

So my question now is, how can I help get these two gentlemen into the Basketball HOF? And YES, the Basketball HOF (unlike the Baseball HOF) does induct commentators, such as Dick Vitale, Chick Hearn, and I'm sure a few others.

Dialj · August 15, 2011 5:53PM

The NBA HOF website has a drop down to contact them and provides a place to ask questions.

http://www.hoophall.com/contact-us/

Estil · August 18, 2011 12:43AM

I contacted them and they're mailing me the nomination forms. Once an individual is nominated, do they have to get 75% of the votes (and who does the voting?) just like the baseball HOF?

Sullyknows · August 18, 2011 9:57AM

good luck with the nomination process

Estil · August 18, 2011 4:55PM

Thanks--I think both men are very deserving.

Now if only I could help get Ronnie Milsap in the Country Music HOF...

frankhardy · August 22, 2011 12:28AM

It's a shame that Cawood Ledford is not ALREADY in the Hall of Fame. He is one of the greatest announcers I ever heard. The last game he ever called was the 1992 UK vs Duke Elite 8, which is considered by many to be the best basketball game ever.

Estil · August 22, 2011 3:52PM

<< <i>It's a shame that Cawood Ledford is not ALREADY in the Hall of Fame. He is one of the greatest announcers I ever heard. The last game he ever called was the 1992 UK vs Duke Elite 8, which is considered by many to be the best basketball game ever. >>

I prefer the 1998 version thank you (which happened to occur exactly on my 18th b-day).

Estil · August 23, 2011 6:11AM

Okay I just received the forms today. What do you think would be the best supporting evidence for Cawood Ledford (as the application expects it)? I should have no trouble finding it for Mr. Ledford, but for Mr. Utley it could be a challenge as far as the Internet goes. Still, I live right next door to KWC and maybe they should have some supporting info.

Estil · August 29, 2011 9:23PM

I just found out there's a neat biography of Cawood Ledford which I will most definitely purchase a copy of (or check out at the library; surely my local library should have it) so I'll know as much about him as possible. And apparently it wasn't just UK games he did! He even called some Kentucky Derbys and get this, he even did (at least some) Kentucky Colonels games!

Now if only I could figure out how to research Joel Utley... Perhaps KWC next door should have some stuff about him?

Cawood Ledford and Joel Utley should be in the Basketball HOF; how do I get them nominated?

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