Sports Hall of Fame Banquet 2006

Bowden, Wetherell Attend as Speakers

By Lila Osceola

HOLLYWOOD — Awards, special guests, guest speakers, trophies, sports video, great food, what more could you ask for at a sports banquet?

This year’s Hall of Fame banquet brought in a few distinguished guests, Florida State University (FSU) Football Coach Bobby Bowden and FSU President T.K Wetherell, as well as the Hall of Fame inductees, on Feb. 7.

The evening’s festivities started out with a barbeque dinner provided by our own Renegade Restaurant. Everyone in attendance enjoyed dining among football’s finest, Bobby Bowden, which presented a great photo opportunity for everyone to take advantage of.

Lots of youth were absent due to practices and other school responsibilities, but the show had to go on. The student-athlete attendees had plenty of chances to get up close and personal with our visitors from FSU. Many people were getting lots of pictures and autographs which is something our guests were accustomed to.

After dinner the crowd congregated into the auditorium for the student athletes, motivational speaker and much anticipated introduction of inductees into the hall of fame. Running on “Indian time” is what we do best, so as usual we were running late.

The ceremony opened with an invocation by President /Vice Chairman Moses Osceola. Director of Recreation Moses “Bigg Shot” Jumper Jr. welcomed everyone for coming and proceeded with the introduction to the 2006 Hall of Fame Banquet.

Hollywood Fitness Trainer Kenny Bayon was in charge of producing a sports video for the viewing audience. Our Seminole youth athletes were featured through sports like basketball, football, rodeo, and gymnastics. Cheering and clapping were a sign of a job well done and the athletes loved seeing themselves on the big screen.

The award ceremony was to follow, and all the student athletes were ready to get their awards. Bellies were full, just watched a good sports video, and now to the beef of the night. As the announcer called their names, each one of them proudly walked on the stage picked up their certificate and walked across the stage to exit. Proud family members and friends cheered as their accomplished student athlete received their certificate.

Following the youth recognition ceremonies the much anticipated part of the evening came. Bobby Bowden was introduced to the stage by President/Vice Chairman Moses Osceola.

“We are proud to be Seminoles,” as Bobby Bowden opened up his speech with, as the Seminole crowd roared in cheers and happiness,” he said. “I wondered if the Seminoles liked us as much as we like them?”

He didn’t even have to ask that question by the warm reception that the Seminole Tribe gave him when he visited the Hollywood reservation.

“I am very impressed with the hospitality of the tribe and they way you have treated us since we stepped off the airplane”, he said.

The main message that Bobby Bowden wanted to give to our youth and everyone in the audience was to “get your priorities in order and live by them.” He said there are three things that everyone should live by.

“Priority number one: God, priority number two family, priority number three other people; serve them and help them,” Bowden said.

There is a Biblical Proverb he said he lives by, that states: “Keep your heart with all diligence because out of heart comes issues of life, Proverb 4:23.”

“Because everything you do, everything you say, keep it clean and keep it honest. Thought originates in your heart and becomes a word. Thought becomes a word, a word becomes an action, an action becomes a habit, and a habit becomes character,” he said.

Bobby Bowden is a great speaker yet humble legend and presents lots of speeches around the U.S. and for him to express so much insight to our congregation was a great honor.

After the heartfelt message from this living legend, Moses Osceola thanked our guest speakers, and brought Moses “Bigg Shot” Jumper Jr. back to the stage for the second portion of the presentation.

Honorary inductees, Raymond Osceola and Dawn Snow were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Stephen Bowers, Tribal citizen of Hollywood, and Tony Sanchez, Tribal citizen of Immokalee were the Hall of Fame inductees for this year’s ceremony.

The families of each inductee were brought to the stage to receive their plaques, and to listen as “Bigg Shot” read the inscription on their plaques.