OAKLAND – The African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame, which is dedicated to honoring black and other ethnic sports legends, will induct Alex (The Bronx Bomber) Ramos along with nine others at The Adam Clayton Powell State Building on Saturday, August 16, 2008.

The luncheon will begin with a "VIP Reception with the Stars" at 12 p.m., followed by lunch at 1 p.m. and the induction ceremony at 2 p.m. The Adam Clayton Powell State Building is located at 163 West 125th Street.

Alex Ramos has over 30 years of experience in the sport of boxing, dating back to training at 11 years old in the Bronx, New York. He was one of the most celebrated amateur boxers ever to come from the State of New York, winning four New York Golden Gloves titles, PAL National Champion, Empire State Games Champion, Junior Olympic Gold Medalist, AAU National Champion, and a member of the USA Boxing Team from 1978-1980. Ramos became the USBA middleweight champion and the 1986 California middleweight champion.

Among the seven community leaders honored at the event will be Joe Louis Reliford. Reliford, who will receive the Hall's Trailblazer Award, at 12 played one inning in a minor-league baseball game on July 19, 1952, with the Fitzgerald Pioneers, then a farm team for the Kansas City A's, now called the Oakland A's. He batted, from center field threw out a runner trying to advance to third base, and robbed the Statesboro Pilots' best hitter of a home run.

Reliford broke the color barrier in the Georgia State Baseball League as a player, although he actually was a batboy! After the game, the opposing fans mobbed him in jubilation as they stuffed money into his pockets. He paved the way for Frank Robinson and Willie McCovey, among others, to play in Georgia. His great catch in 1952 was recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. The same year, Reliford received a resolution from the Georgia State Senate for unintentionally making American baseball history.

He went on to play in the Georgia State Negro Leagues for the Fitzgerald Lucky Stars against Hank Aaron and others. He and Aaron are the only two black baseball icons in the State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, Reliford is the author of "From Batboy to the Hall of Fame," a potential feature film subject. The complete list of inductees and other honors can be viewed at www.afrosportshall.com.

This event will allow us to recapture, remember and honor some of the greatest athletes ever who have become living legends, and you are invited to witness the induction of the class of 2008 and help make dreams come true for our academic achievers. These athletes have a rich history worth telling, one that reflects commitment, determination and dignity.

The AAESHOF is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of opportunities for young, less fortunate people to gain exposure to positive aspects of life.

This is our major Hall of Fame scholarship fund-raiser for students to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It helps students from economically challenged backgrounds fund their education through our "Academic Achievers Award Program."

The event will be video taped and video streamed onto the Internet on TheWorldSportsNet.com. Negotiations have begun to televise the event on a delayed basis. National, International and local print media, television and radio will be represented and interviews regularly will be conducted prior to and after the event.

Sponsored in part by Ethiopian Airlines, Amtrak, Durant Management, Bobby Hunter, and Outback Steakhouse.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.afrosportshall.com. For further information contact, Wendy Welch 404-312-2100 / wendy@connectwelch.com, or Arif Khatib at afrosportshall@aol.com / 510-508-3309.

Note: Tables of ten (10) may be purchased at the following levels:

$1,000 VIP Reception (includes Reception With the Stars, lunch and ceremony)

$750 Luncheon & ceremony

$500 (Discounted price for youth, includes luncheon and ceremony)

Inductees:

• Burgess Owens (Football) *
• Abner Haynes (Football) *
• Alex (The Bronx Bomber) Ramos (Boxing) *
• Frank Budd (Track & Field) *
• Joe Bryant (Basketball) *
• Jo Jo White (Basketball) *
• Art Dorrington (Hockey) *
• Marian Muhammad (IBF President/Boxing *
• Lacey O'Neal (Track & Field) *
• Congressman Ralph H. Metcalfe (Posthumously) *

Community Honorees:

• Dr. Harold Freeman (Humanitarian Award) *
• Coach Marvin Rippy (Basketball Coaching Achievement Award) *
• Joe Louis Reliford (Youngest Professional Baseball Player/12 years old/Trailblazer Award) *
• Dr. Enawgaw Mehari (Humanitarian Award *
• C Virginia Fields (Lifetime Leadership Award) *
• Dale Caldwell (USTA/Outstanding Leadership Award) *
• Hannibal Navies (Youth Advocate Award) *

* Confirmed