Welcome Remarks for "All American: The Power of Sports" exhibit opening
Welcome to the National Archives Building and the opening of All American: The Power of Sports. This exhibit is a celebration of the ways that sports have shaped our nation, our identity, and our shared history.
The All American exhibit has been years in the making. It took the collective efforts of National Archives staff across the country during a worldwide pandemic to make it happen.
First, I would like to thank Alice Kamps, curator for All American, for all her hard work on this exhibit. In addition, I would like to acknowledge the rest of the team that brought All American to life:
From the Exhibits staff: Ray Ruskin, Dan Falk, Karen Hibbitt, Dee Harris, and Catherine Farmer
From our Conservation staff: Dong Eun Kim, Rachel Bartgis, Richard Hnat, Jennifer Herman, Abigail Thompson, Jody Beenk [Beank], Morgan Browning, Sonya Barron, Yoonjoo Strumfels, Anne Witty, Lindsay Oakley, Mark Ormsby, and Amy Lubick.
Our digital imaging specialist Sheri Hill
Our Editor Mary Ryan
From Motion Pictures and Still Pictures: Dan Rooney, Carol Swain, Ellen Mulligan, Criss Austin, Audry Amidon, Carol Church and Alexis Hill
From Research Services staff: Michael Wright, Tim Rives, Cody White, Trevor Plante, and David Langbart.
From Legislative records: Adam Berenbak
Our Communications team: Miriam Kleiman, Robin Waldman, Hilary Parkinson, Laura Diachenko, Darren Cole, and Angela Tudico
Our Education team: Tom Nastick and Breanne Chen
And our Exhibits volunteer Darlene McClurkin
In addition, I’d like to acknowledge and thank the panel of Academic Advisors for All American: Dick Crepeau, Gerald Gems, Lindsay Krasnoff, Rita Liberti, Louis Moore, Maureen Smith, Janice Todd, David Wiggins, Kevin Witherspoon, Damion Tomas, and Robert Lypsite.
Thank you all.
I’d also like to acknowledge a special guest tonight, former Archivist David Ferriero who is with us this evening. It was under his leadership that the All American exhibit came to be.
Finally, I want to express gratitude to the National Archives Foundation and our sponsors for championing the All American exhibit and our many other public outreach projects. The Foundation has long supported us in our mission to serve the public and increase awareness of our remarkable holdings. We appreciate the support and enthusiasm of the Foundation’s board members and dedicated staff.
Now I would like to introduce one of our special guests this evening––NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutumbo. Mr. Mutumbo was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He arrived in the United States in 1987 to attend Georgetown University. The 7 foot 2 inch athlete was recruited by renowned coach John Thompson to play for the Georgetown Hoyas. We are actually fellow Hoyas. I attended Georgetown at the same time (I was not recruited for my height or athletic abilities)––but I did have the thrill of seeing Mr. Mutumbo’s skills on the court and sitting in Rejection Row.
Mr. Mutumbo graduated with dual degrees in linguistics and diplomacy. He went on to play professional basketball for 18 years before retiring from the NBA in 2009. That same year, he became the first NBA Global Ambassador where he continues to work to grow and celebrate the game of basketball through international sporting events while working with NBA Cares to bring attention to important social issues. A well-known humanitarian, Mutumbo created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve the health, education, and quality of life for the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Please welcome Dikembe Mutumbo.