Nov. 30, 2006

BOISE, Idaho - Former Spartan All-American Steve Smith is one of three people who will be inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame on Thursday, Nov. 30. The induction ceremonies for Smith, football great Steve Largent and baseball star Harmon Killebrew will be streamed live at www.sportshumanitarian.com beginning at 9:30 p.m. EST. The ceremonies will take place in Boise, Idaho.

The Humanitarian Hall of Fame annually inducts individuals who are world-class in athletic ability, role models in their community and have a strong record of humanitarian efforts.

"We are extremely proud of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame Class of 2006," said Larry Maneely, World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame board of directors president. "By honoring Steve Largent, Harmon Killebrew and Steve Smith, we continue in our tradition of recognizing exceptional athletes who have proven themselves even better as citizens of the world. They have set the bar high in competition, and with their humanitarian efforts, challenge us all to do more, whenever, and wherever, we have the opportunity."

A Detroit, Mich., native, Smith is being recognized for his $2.5 million contribution to Michigan State that helped to construct a student-athlete academic center named for his late-mother, Clara Bell Smith. In 2001, Smith contributed an additional $600,000 to fully endow an annual Michigan State scholarship for high-achieving students from Detroit's Pershing High School, which he attended.

After a highly successful collegiate basketball career as the Spartans' all-time leading scorer with 2,263 points and receiving First-Team All-America honors, Smith was selected by the Miami Heat as fifth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. Smith went on to play with six NBA teams winning the 2003 NBA World Championship with the San Antonio Spurs and helped the United States win the Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He is currently a color commentator for Atlanta Hawks games on FSN.

Largent, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member who set six career records and earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl during a 14-year career with the Seattle Seahawks, is being honored for over three decades of community achievement -- spanning an NFL career, public service in the United States Congress (R-OK) and life in the private sector.

In 1988, Largent was recognized as the NFL Man of the Year for his commitment to community service and in 1989, in recognition of a lifetime of achievement, was awarded the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement. Also in 1989, Largent received the inaugural Bart Starr Award presented by Athletes in Action. The award is annually presented to an NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. In 1990, Largent was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the Jaycees and was named a University of Tulsa Distinguished Alumnus. He was inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame in 1991. Largent is currently President & CEO of CTIA -The Wireless Association.

Killebrew, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame who is regarded as one of the most prolific power hitters in Major League Baseball history, is being honored for his commitment to help fund Leukemia research through Idaho's Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament, along with his work as a spokesperson for the World Children's Baseball Fair and his founding of the Harmon Killebrew Foundation, which is committed to aiding research for pain relief and care management for the terminally ill.

During a 22-year career with the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals, the Payette, Idaho native was named an American League All-Star 13 times, the 1969 American League Most Valuable Player, and was a six-time American League home run leader where he is currently eighth on the all-time Major League list with 573 round-trippers. He led the twins to the 1965 World Series and 1969 and 1970 ALCS.

The Humanitarian Hall of Fame, located on the Boise State University campus, annually inducts individuals who are world-class in athletic ability, role models in their community and have a strong record of humanitarian efforts. Since President Gerald R. Ford served as its first honorary chairman in 1994 over 30 sports-humanitarians have been enshrined including tennis great Arthur Ashe, major league baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson, NFL coaching legend Tom Landry, the NBA's David Robinson, and soccer great Pelé.