Steel Valley to induct first Hall of Famers

Thursday, October 23, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Six individuals and one family will be recognized at the inaugural induction of the Steel Valley Hall of Fame on Nov. 14.

Ronnie Lott, former San Francisco 49er and NFL Hall of Fame member, will be keynote speaker at the induction banquet that evening.

The Hall of Fame is a collaborative effort of three Steel Valley nonprofits: The Best of the Batch Foundation, the Munhall-based Carnegie Library of Homestead, and the I-TEAM, or Ironmen Technology Enrichment Academics Mentoring organization. The groups are joining efforts to honor current and former residents who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in the arts, sciences, business, sports and community service.

The 2008 Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Jack Butler: A longtime resident of Munhall and former Pittsburgh Steeler, he was named one of the 33 all-time greatest players in the 75-year history of the Steelers.

• David Lewis: A native of South Africa and an internationally renowned architect, he calls the Steel Valley home and has been involved in the preservation of the region's historical resources.

• George A. Nama: A Munhall native and prestigious artist, he is celebrated worldwide for his sculptures, etchings and sketches.

• Cumberland "Cum" Posey: Owner/manager of one of the Negro Baseball Leagues' greatest teams, the Homestead Grays, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

• Tamara Tunie: A Steel Valley High School and Carnegie Mellon University graduate, she stars on prime-time television and Broadway.

• Lynn Yanyo: Another Steel Valley High School and Carnegie Mellon University graduate, she has a doctorate in polymer science and engineering, and holds seven U.S. patents.

• The Campbell family: Well-known in the Steel Valley area for academic and athletic achievement, the family is revered for its unmatched philanthropy.

The I-TEAM, library and Best of the Batch Foundation are natural partners in this initiative as each emphasizes student and youth programming, academic excellence and character development.

"Our organizations want to inspire the young people of the Steel Valley by celebrating the great citizens the Steel Valley has produced. Artists, architects, scientists, athletes -- the Steel Valley has produced them all," said Charlie Batch, a graduate of Steel Valley High School and honorary chairperson of the banquet. "We can produce more. We want to be honoring a Steel Valley student graduating in 2009 at a future Steel Valley Hall of Fame Banquet."

The banquet, a biannual event, will be held at 6 p.m. at St. John Cathedral Center, 210 Greentree Road, Munhall.

Tickets for this gala are available at the library and cost $100 each, $175 for two, or $850 for a table of 10.

For more information, call 412-462-3444 or visit www.homesteadlibrary.org.