Tonight, my friend, the late and great boxer Rudell Stitch, will be honored as one of seven inductees into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame! Rudell was the #2 ranked welterweight in the world and a father of six, when he drowned on June 5, 1960 at the age of 27, while trying to save the life of his friend in the Ohio River. Twice he risked his life in the Ohio to save others, his first attempt successful and the second attempt resulting in his death. In 1958, he was awarded a prestigious Andrew Carnegie Hero Medal (carnegiehero.org/) for saving the life of Army Corps of Engineers worker Joseph Shifcar (pictured in hospital bed when Rudell visited him). Shifcar had fallen from the McAlpine Dam, breaking his leg on the rocks before tumbling into the river, and was rescued by Rudell. After Rudell’s death, his family was posthumously awarded a second Carnegie Medal, making him one of only four people in in the 106 year history of the Carnegie Foundation to have been awarded two Medals. Because of the great sportsmanship Rudell displayed in and out of the boxing ring, the National Boxing Association created the Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award in 1960 in his honor. Rudell’s oldest son Donald, Rich Keeling and I have been trying for years to have Rudell Stitch honored for the great things he accomplished in his short life, both as an athlete and as a humanitarian, and it is so gratifying to his family for him to receive this long overdue recognition. My new CD, “Reasons & Rhymes,” includes my tribute song to Rudell, “Song for Rudell,” and it will be one of the songs we will perform this Friday, June 20, at our CD Release Party at Jim Porter’s (7PM). Eventually, we hope that a documentary will be done about Rudell Stitch and we have met with folks at the Ali Center about a possible exhibit in his honor. Thanks to all the folks who have joined Donald, Rich and myself in helping to get Rudell honored – Byron Crawford for his 2005 CJ article; Stephen Brown for sharing a June 5, 2012 FB post about Rudell with Mike Sheehy; Mike Sheehy, who heads up the Hometown Heroes Banner program, for his belief in Rudell’s story and for his help in getting Rudell’s banner hung in downtown Louisville; Ron Sheeran and John Asher, for their passionate presentation to other KAHOF Board members leading to Rudell Stitch being inducted tonight into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. Photos: Hospital, Rudell Stitch with Joseph Shifcar; Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award; Rudell Stitch with (then) Cassius Clay and (then) Rudy Clay; Hometown Heroes Banner.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 15:42:33 +0000