In 2012, the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame began recognizing outstanding athletic efforts and off-field contributions by handing out Directors' Awards. On Wednesday, the Hall of Fame Board Of Directors announced the 2013 recipients, who will be recognized alongside this year's actual class of inductees at the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame ceremony on February 26th.
Joe Floyd Award--For Significant and Lasting Contribution to Alaska through Sports. This award goes to Don Dennis, the General Manager of the Alaska Goldpanners baseball team since 1967. Dennis' involvement with the Goldpanners and the Alaska Baseball League itself was instrumental in the formation and continued legacy of the ABL.
Trajan Langdon Award--For Leadership, Sportsmanship and Inspiration. West High School wrestler Paul Tandy receives this award. Tandy is a junior in high school who was born in Taiwan three and a half months early. The amount of oxygen he received as a baby permanently blinded him. Despite tremendous disadvantages, Tandy manages to compete and perform well for the West High School wrestling program.
Pride of Alaska Award--For Consistent Excellence in Athletic Competition (male and female recipient). The female honoree is the Nunaka Valley Junior League Softball team. In 2012, Nunaka Valley became the first Alaskan team, baseball or softball, in any age group to win a World Series title.
Also announced as a Pride of Alaska Award winner( male ) is Mario Chalmers, a graduate of Bartlett High School, who has gone on to become a key player for the defending NBA champion Miami Heat. Chalmers is the first Alaskan to win an NBA title.
