The Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools (DCPS) Board of Directors and the Daviess County High School (DCHS) Class of 1967 invite classmates, friends, family and the general public to the official Owensboro Walk of Fame induction ceremony for Houston Hogg on Friday, July 27, 2018. The ceremony will be held at 7:45 p.m. at the Jagoe Homes Patio Stage on the BB&T Plaza at the RiverPark Center in downtown Owensboro, Kentucky, in conjunction with Friday After Five.
When asked how he felt about his classmates sponsoring his star on Second Street and induction in to Owensboro’s Walk of Fame, Houston Hogg said, “I am honored that they would do this for me. I am overwhelmed by their kindness. I never thought about somebody doing something like this for me.”
Terry Hendricks, DCHS ‘67 representative to the Foundation for DCPS Black in Blue Event Committee, said, “It has been a true ’labor of love’ for me to work with my classmates to pay tribute to our friend and classmate Houston Hogg. He is one of the most genuine and deserving people I know. This star will be a permanent reminder to everyone who sees it of his caring example and lasting impact upon our community.”
Matt Robbins, Superintendent of Daviess County Public Schools (DCPS), said “The Daviess County Public School district is proud to honor the legacy of Houston Hogg. He exemplifies the highest ideals that we desire for all children, including determination in overcoming adversity and demonstrating the values and rewards of hard work, commitment and teamwork.”
Mr. Hogg’s induction in to the Owensboro Walk of Fame is the beginning of a two-day event hosted by the Foundation for DCPS, title sponsored by Jagoe Homes and Owensboro Health, to honor him. On Saturday, July 28, 2018, the Foundation will host Black in Blue Dinner & a Movie that will feature a sneak preview of Academy Award Winning Film Maker Paul Wagner’s documentary Black in Blue.
The film tells the story of Houston Hogg and three University of Kentucky(UK) teammates who broke the race barrier at UK and in the Southeastern Conference in the late 1960’s. Proceeds from the fundraiser go to the Houston Hogg Youth Fund, which was established through the Foundation by the DCHS Class of 1967 to honor Houston and Deborah Hogg’s foster parenting of more than 200 children. Funds will be used to strengthen the Foundation’s ability to remove barriers to education for students in 18 DCPS schools.
“In addition to removing barriers to education and providing educational enhancements for DCPS students, the Foundation honors successful alumni. It is a privilege for us to spotlight Houston’s involvement in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s through sneak previewing Paul Wagner’s Black in Blue film. We are proud to honor Houston and Deborah’s love of children by establishing the Houston Hogg Youth Fund to benefit DCPS students and to partner with the DCHS Class of 1967 to sponsor Houston’s induction into the Walk of Fame,” said Foundation for DCPS Executive Director Vicki Quisenberry.
“We are delighted to have local individuals and businesses step up to sponsor student group attendance for the Black in Blue movie,” continued Quisenberry. Paul Martin, former UK teammate of Houston’s, is sponsoring the Owensboro Catholic High School students, Old National Bank is sponsoring Owensboro High School students, Kentucky Legend is providing tickets for Daviess County High School students and an anonymous donor is sponsoring Apollo High School students.
“I am honored to sponsor Black in Blue movie tickets for the Owensboro Catholic High School Football team and students!” said Paul Martin, former University of Kentucky teammate. “This film is a wonderful example of the courage it takes to step forward in life to bring about positive results for the human race! Thanks, Greg, Nat, Houston and Wilbur!”
Wade Jenkins, Market President with Old National Bank said, “Old National Bank is very happy to bring together 100 student athletes from Owensboro High School to watch a movie that features four University of Kentucky Football players breaking the Southeastern Conference color barrier in 1967. It’s a powerful movie that will have a positive impact and continue to strengthen relationships in our community.”
The University of Kentucky (UK) Alumni Association and the UK Alumni Daviess County (DC) Club are partnering with the Foundation to honor UK alumni Paul Wagner, Paul Karem,
Houston Hogg, Nate Northington and Wilbur Hackett. The Alumni Association and the DC Club are collecting items for a live auction to be held after the movie. Auction items include:
* Signed UK Football – The Black in Blue Crew (Wagner, Karem, Hogg, Hackett, Northington, Martin)
* Signed UK Football (Mark Stoops)
* Signed UK basketball (John Calipari)
* Football Game Tickets (2018 Season – Game and Date TBA)
* Basketball Game Tickets (2018-19 Season – Game & Date TBA)
“The UK Alumni Association is pleased to support this historic event in Owensboro!” said Tim Walsh, Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Executive Director of the UK Alumni Association. “These SEC football pioneers demonstrated courage, determination and selflessness when they agreed to wear the Blue and White over 50 years ago. We are grateful for the invaluable mark they’ve left on our university and on SEC Football. We’re also happy to celebrate this special occasion in Owensboro, one of our most populous alumni bases in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
A portion of the proceeds raised by the auction will be used by the DC Club to award scholarships to University of Kentucky students.
Official Movie Trailer – http://www.blackinblue.org
Donors may purchase tickets to Black in Blue Dinner & A Movie or find out more about the Houston Hogg Youth Fund and the Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools by contacting the Foundation for DCPS at (270) 231-5583 or by emailing Vicki Quisenberry (vickiq@FoundationForDCPS.org). FOLLOW the Foundation for DCPS Facebook page and on TWITTER @FDCPS.