The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Football Bowl Subdivision Athletics Directors McLendon Minority Scholarship Steering Committee inducted the Legends Class of Minority Athletics Administrators December 18.

Gene Smith, athletics director at Ohio State, headlines the class which includes NBA General manager Wayne Embry, former NCAA president James Frank, NFL General Manager Ozzie Newsome, NAIA and USOC president LeRoy Walker and Major League Baseball National League president Bill White.

The group was honored at the halftime break of the men's basketball game between Ohio State and Cleveland State. All proceeds from the luncheon go toward the John McLendon Minority Scholarship program established in 1998. Since then, the program has awarded more than 30 $10,000 postgraduate scholarships to minority students pursuing a graduate degree in athletics administration.

“It is an honor to be recognized with a group of men who have such tremendous accomplishments in athletics,” Smith said. “To have a chance to be recognized by your peers whose contributions towards kids in athletics is the greatest recognition I can imagine. I feel special.”

The luncheon also served as the venue for the distribution of the first Allan H. (Bud) SeligMentoring Award to Dan Rooney, chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers.