[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 136 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ATHLETES UNITED FOR PEACE AND THE ANNUAL DON BARKSDALE ``HUMANITARIAN 
              OF THE YEAR'' AWARD RECIPIENT, MARTIN WYATT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 2, 1998

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, on November 21, 1998, the Athletes United for 
Peace (AUP) will present the Don Barksdale ``Humanitarian of the Year'' 
award to Mr. Martin Wyatt.
  Athletes United for Peace (AUP) is a Bay Area nonprofit organization 
committed to promoting peace, education, friendship and understanding 
through community programs and events for young people. The 
organization was established in 1984 after the boycott of the Olympic 
Games by athletes from the former USSR and the United States.
  In 1992, after serving primarily as an international organization 
during the early years, AUP focused its energy toward providing 
programs and activities for high-risk youth and young adults throughout 
the East Bay communities of Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond. The 
organization continually strives to offer low-income disadvantaged 
participants programs and events that promote the agency's ideals and 
serve as health alternatives to criminal activity and antisocial 
behavior amongst young people.
  Each year, AUP serves more than 700 young people between the ages of 
7-26 with programs, activities and events that include: mentorship, 
late-night basketball, academic and sports camps, youth sport camps and 
clinics, video production training, academic lectures, tournaments and 
special events. These services are regularly provided in partnership 
with several public schools, local government and law enforcement 
agencies, and the local business community.
  AUP established the Don Barksdale ``Humanitarian of the Year'' Award 
in 1994 as a tribute to the last Oakland philanthropist who devoted his 
life to help aspiring Bay Area young people through his ``Save High 
School Sports'' Foundation (established in 1985) in Oakland, CA. 
Through Don Barksdale's diligent efforts, the foundation raised more 
than one million dollars to help fund financially troubled high school 
sports programs throughout the Bay Area.
  Don Barksdale, a sports and entertainment pioneer, broke the color 
barrier and paved the road for countless other people. In the 1940's 
and the 1950's, he was the Nation's premiere African American 
basketball star and was named to the NCAA college basketball All 
America team (UCLA 1947); selected to compete in the US Men's Olympic 
Basketball team (London 1948); and played in the NBA All Star game (Ft. 
Wayne 1953).
  Don Barksdale was a trailblazer being the first popular radio disc 
jockey (KROW and KLX); the first to host a weekly television show 
(SEPIA REVIEW KRON 4); the first to own and operate a beer 
distributorship, while integrating the local beverage driver's union in 
Oakland. He helped thousands of musicians and entertainers break into 
the entertainment industry by employing them at the Sportsman and 
Showcase night clubs that he owned and operated in the 1950's, 60's and 
70's. Don Barksdale's impact on the East Bay is unparalleled and 
recognized through the Athletes United for Peace awards.
  The Don Barksdale ``Humanitarian of the Year'' award recipient is 
Martin Wyatt, founder of the ``Sports Image & Education Foundation.'' 
He will be recognized for his dedication and commitment to charitable 
agencies in the community serving youth. Martin Wyatt, an Emmy award 
winning television sports anchor/director for ABC TV in San Francisco, 
is the annual host of his foundations' ``Sports Image Award'' ceremony 
that honors men and women in sports who do enormous amount of community 
work. He has also devoted time serving on the board of directors for 
the Bay Area Black United Fund and the Oakland Area Black community 
Crusade for Children.
  It is with great pride and honor that I salute the work of the 
Athletes United for Peace and Martin Wyatt, a deserving recipient of 
the Don Barksdale ``Humanitarian of the Year'' award.

                          ____________________