Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

"The paths that our heroes have blazed and the legacies they have left provide us with purpose and meaning."

These words, spoken by Dr. Dean Tuttle at the American Printing House for the Blind in October, 2001, began the formal announcement of a venue to celebrate the heroes of the field of blindness.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized.

Mission Statement

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field shall be dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

The Field's Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field, a project of the entire field of blindness, is housed in the 1926 wing of the historic 1883 building of the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky.

"We are a profession that, until now, has not honored its history appropriately. Many of the present generation of professionals in the blindness field have little knowledge of the giants that have gone before them. It is on the very shoulders of these giants that we depend to lead us into the future." --Carl Augusto, President, American Foundation for the Blind

Exciting Features of the Hall of Fame

The multimedia Hall of Fame currently features tactile/visual bas relief plaques of the first class of inductees in the Hall. In the future, artifacts, videos, and interactive kiosks will be added to celebrate the achievements of our legends. Braille listings of the Hall of Fame inductees and the Friends of Leaders and Legends honorary stones are available. In addition, a virtual Hall of Fame is accessible through www.aph.org. On APH's homepage, click the "Hall of Fame" link.

Heroes Who Have Been Inducted

These 32 legends were the first to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. They were inducted in 2002:

• Georgie Lee Abel
  
• Samuel Ashcroft
  
• Robert Atkinson
  
• Col. E. A. Baker
  
• Natalie Barraga
  
• Mary K. Bauman
  
• Donald Blasch
  
• Warren Bledsoe
  
• Fr. Thomas Carroll
  
• Cleo Dolan
  
• Eleanor E. Faye
  
• MD, Kathern Gruber
  
• Richard Hoover
  
• Samuel Gridley Howe
  
• Douglas Inkster
  
• Robert Irwin
  
• Kenneth Jernigan
  
• Ruth Kaarlela
  
• Helen Keller
  
• Roy Kumpe
  
• Berthold Lowenfeld
  
• Durward McDaniel
  
• Alice Raftary
  
• Louis Rives
  
• Jr., Peter Salmon
  
• Stanley Suterko
  
• Mary Switzer
  
• Josephine Taylor
  
• Louis Vieceli
  
• Donald Wedewer
  
• Robert Whitstock
  
• Russell Williams

The second group, inducted in 2005, includes:

• William English
  
• William Hadley
  
• Abraham Nemeth
  
• J. Max Woolly

Hall of Fame Adds Historic Event Video

You can now enjoy or relive that historic evening that recognized the initial 32 members of the Hall and inducted the ten living legends on the Hall of Fame website. You'll hear amazing tales from these icons of our field that will make you understand and appreciate why they have been so honored. Find links to the video on the Hall of Fame website.

"THANK YOU AND ALL THOSE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE. I was not able to be there, and now, to see the entire induction, it is just wonderful. What a treasure and gift to the field, to be able to see and hear this wonderful induction ceremony. Thank you just isn't enough." Dr. Kathleen Huebner, PCO

Nine Living Legends of the Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field (October, 2002); left to right: Ruth Kaarlela, Samuel Ashcroft, Natalie Barraga, Cleo Dolan, Eleanor Faye, Louis Vieceli, Alice Raftary, Stanley Suterko, and Donald Wedewer.

Artifacts Wanted

If you have artifacts related to Hall of Fame inductees, please contact Bob Brasher at bbrasher@aph.org.

Two Ways to Support the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame needs your financial support and we provide two ways for you to help.

Donations

You can make a donation to the Hall. Those who donate $50.00 or more may request a video of the historic gathering of the Hall of Fame living legends, recorded at the 2002 APH Annual Meeting.

Place an Engraved Stone in the "Leaders and Legends" Wall

You can make a donation and request that an engraved stone be placed in a wall of tribute called the "Friends of Leaders and Legends." The wall is in the Hall of Fame near the kiosks depicting those who have been inducted into the Hall. Your custom engraved stone allows you to permanently honor a person or organization that has made a difference in your life.

The wall is made up of stones placed in beautifully detailed wooden columns. Five sizes of these elegantly inscribed stones are available to be personalized as you choose. All etched stones are eight inches wide and vary in height: three, four, six, eight and twelve inches. Each etched, high contrast Romanite(R) stone is engraved with half-inch black letters and can be donated outright or over a three-year installment plan.

Organization logos can be accommodated on the eight and twelve inch stones. All deeply etched stones are accompanied by a handsome 8" x 1" strip of braille that provides the message of the stone. Select your stone size and write your own inscription.

All supporters of this wall of tribute will receive a certificate suitable for framing, acknowledging their support.

Each engraving will be comprised of a Romanite(R) St. Augustine beveled-edge stone with 1/2" etching in APHont(TM) with black infill.

Available Stone Sizes:

• 3" x 8"
  2 lines, 15 characters per line
  $375.00 ($135.00 x 3 years)
  
  
• 4" x 8"
  3 lines, 15 characters per line
  $550.00 ($190.00 x 3 years)
  
  
• 6" x 8"
  5 lines, 15 characters per line
  $1,000.00 ($334.00 x 3 years)
  
  
• 8" x 8"
  7 lines, 15 characters per line
  $2,500.00 ($834.00 x 3 years)
  (Can display logo with fewer lines of text)
  
  
• 12" x 8"
  11 lines, 15 characters per line
  $5,000.00 ($1,667.00 x 3 years)
  (Can display logo with fewer lines of text)

Note: Logos should be provided as camera-ready artwork.

For an additional $75.00, you may purchase a personal presentation stone similar to your Friends of Leaders and Legends stone. This beautiful replica is a tangible way to acknowledge the person or group that you have honored. Each replica includes a handsome stand.

Donations to the Hall of Fame are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to:

Leaders and Legends, Hall of Fame
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206

All donations will be gratefully acknowledged.