July 31, 2024 • 25 mins
In this episode of Connect the Knox, host Julia Hurley is joined by Dana Hart, Executive Director of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Dana shares her compelling journey from Missouri to Knoxville and her deep involvement in the Hall of Fame. They discuss the Hall's rich history, its impact on women's sports, and its various educational programs and international recognition. Dana highlights the importance of the Hall of Fame to the Knoxville community and the future of women's basketball. Tune in for an insightful conversation celebrating the achievements and contributions of women in sports.
Show Highlights:
(00:00) - Intro
(00:47) - Dana Hart’s background
(03:13) - The importance of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
(05:53) - Location and cost of the Hall of Fame
(08:33) - Hall of Fame induction ceremonies
(11:31) - Ad - Just Homes Group
(12:01) - Impact of the Hall of Fame
(15:08) - Women's Basketball Hall of Fame summer camps
(16:17) - Growing women's basketball
(19:23) - Women’s basketball and Knoxville
(22:19) - Where to find out more about the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
(23:06) - Rapid Fire Round
Links Referenced:
Dana’s email: dhart@wbhof.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Welcome everyone to another episode of Connect the Knox.
I'm your host, Julia Hurley, Connecting Knoxville to the Nation.
Today's guest is a fantastic representative of
all things leadership in the Knoxville area.
But also, you're gonna find out, across the world.
Please meet Dana Hart, the Executive Director
(00:28):
of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
And she's taking time for us today on vacation.
Dana, thank you so much for joining us.
Absolutely.
I am so happy to be here and it's good to see you Julia.
I am sitting here in rural Missouri, so having a relaxing vacation.
Thank you for that.
We appreciate your time so much.
It's very important to share the story of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
(00:51):
And you do that no matter where you are and you bring joy
to it and some education that I don't think people know.
Let's get started.
Dana, tell us about you, how you, uh, how you are in Knoxville,
and then let's start on the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
Well, I'm happy to tell the story of how I'm in
Knoxville, how I got associated with the Hall of Fame.
I'm originally from Missouri, which is why I'm here on vacation with family.
(01:13):
Um, but I moved to Tennessee probably about 28 years ago,
and my husband and I were living outside of Nashville.
I was working in Nashville at the time, and we decided
we needed to either move to Nashville or to Knoxville.
And kind of look at the choices.
And so we looked at all the options and we chose Knoxville.
And do not regret it.
We've been there, like I said, 27, 28 years.
(01:35):
We absolutely love East Tennessee.
It is a wonderful area.
The most welcoming people you will ever find.
So many variety of activities to do in a great community.
So I ended up at the Hall of Fame.
Actually, I was brought in by one of the original
Founders of the Hall of Fame, which is Gloria Ray.
She was the president and CEO of Knoxville Sports Corporation.
(01:57):
And, um, originally the Hall of Fame was supposed to be
in Jackson, Tennessee and West Tennessee because of the
AIAW tournaments at the time, which was the predecessor.
To the NCAA Final Four.
And so, um, unfortunately, Jackson, I guess, fortunately for us,
Jackson was unable to raise the funding to build the Hall of Fame.
And so Gloria Ray with the Sports Corp and, um, her good
(02:19):
friend, Pat Summit, which I think people know from the
University of Tennessee, they said, let's bring it to Knoxville.
And within a year, they had raised 10 million with the community's
help to build the Hall of Fame there in downtown Knoxville.
God, that's such a good, you know, Pat Summitt could do anything.
Pat Summitt could do anything and not only that, Pat Summitt could
motivate you to do anything or to at least think you could do anything.
(02:42):
Um, Pat was a very good friend of mine.
Um, a great coach.
She was a founding board member of the Hall of Fame, very actively involved.
And even after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's,
she brought her caregivers to the Hall of Fame.
Um, on her own just one day and announced and she said,
I want them to see me the coach because they know me the
person, which is the totally opposite of what most people do.
(03:03):
They know Pat the person or Pat the coach, but not Pat the person.
And so I thought that was very nice of her to want to share
her history within women's basketball with her caregivers.
You have a big responsibility in Knoxville to maintain
really, truly, uh, the image of women's sports.
And I don't know anyone that would have ever
(03:24):
filled that position better, even in Jackson.
I think it was a meant to be situation.
You are truly the beacon of women's sports education and growth
in this, in this area, in this market, carrying the legacy.
Uh, Pat Summitt's torch forward of making sure that we have eyes
on the prize, which is understanding, uh, that women, women can.
(03:44):
Absolutely, and Julia, thank you for saying that.
I appreciate your kind comments.
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame means the world to me.
I've been going on 23 years there.
I started about two years after it was started.
That's established there in Knoxville, Tennessee, and we've really grown
not just the physical structure and what is inside, but our outreach.
I mean, that is so important.
Yes, we are based in Knoxville, but more than
(04:05):
that, we are an international Hall of Fame.
We recognize coaches, players, contributors, veterans, and officials.
From around the world.
And I think that is so important to know
and we represent that in the Hall of Fame.
We tell the story from the beginning in 1892, Lucinda
Berenson at Smith College in Massachusetts to the current day.
I mean, we have Caitlyn Clark's jersey hanging in the Hall of Fame.
(04:27):
We have the Final four teams there.
And you know, I think it's very interesting watching
how, um, basketball has grown from 1892 to the present.
Women's basketball started two months after men's
basketball started in Massachusetts, and I think we're
one of the few sports that women just tagged along.
And, um, the reason why was to find physical activity
and engagement for students at Smith College.
(04:50):
And, um, Smith College is a great partner of ours now,
and, and we recognize that contribution to the game.
And then when you look at women's basketball of where it's going, um, it's,
it's, you know, In the news, non stop, um, good or bad, which is a good thing.
And there's no bad press, I don't think.
But what we're doing at the Hall of Fame is trying
to tell the story of the history of the game.
(05:12):
Because I feel like we are the keepers of the history.
But then also to share that story with the youth.
And to make sure that we're developing leaders for tomorrow.
That's really important to us to develop this leadership potential.
And so with the Hall of Fame, we have what we call, um,
the Her Academy and there's different components to it.
(05:32):
And one is, is leadership of young women through the
Pats Summit Foundation, telling Pats deaf and a dozen.
The other pieces are educating students through our Hero Program,
and then we have a Girl Scout piece, um, we have an Outreach piece.
So, there's all different things that we're doing to make sure
that the story of women's basketball goes beyond just basketball.
(05:53):
So, tell everybody about, I mean, one, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
If you've not been to Knoxville, please put
it on your list to visit when you come here.
Most of the people that listen to our podcast are relocations.
Uh, we're in the, in the, in almost the tens of thousands at this
point of listeners, so we're very excited that the podcast is growing.
Most of our listeners are from out of the area.
(06:14):
So, kind of talk about where the Basketball Hall of
Fame is located in terms of ease of getting to it.
It is very easy to get to.
Talk about, uh, pricing, and I then would like
for you to talk about the induction ceremonies.
I don't, uh, No, if people know that Knoxville, Tennessee
is the hub for these things, this is a big deal.
(06:34):
So the Hall of Fame is located right off Interstate
40 in downtown Knoxville, right on the riverfront.
Very easy to get to.
We have our own, um, exit.
It is Hall of Fame Drive.
You get off the exit off 40 and drive.
takes you straight to the Hall of Fame.
The World's Largest Basketball sits on the back rotunda of the
Hall of Fame, so you can't miss it once you are close to it.
(06:54):
And it's funny because I've had people
call and say, I'm kind of lost, where am I?
And I said, do you see the big basketball?
And so then they see it and they said, Oh, I feel so stupid.
But we have the World's Largest Basketball on the back of our building.
We are also within a block of downtown Knoxville has
grown so much and changed the tourist aspect of Knoxville.
(07:16):
There's so much to do.
Even as a resident, James White Fort is right next door to us and
that's the founder of Knoxville Blunt Mansion, one of the centers
of the Constitution is within walking distance of the block.
Within a block and a half, two blocks, you can be in downtown
Knoxville enjoying everything that that has to offer.
To offer Market Square, um, all the shops, all of the restaurants.
(07:37):
You can spend a whole day there and still not see everything.
Um, so downtown Knoxville is, is a vibrant part of our city.
And, and if you've not been to Knoxville in a while, please come back.
It has changed so much.
If you're looking at relocating, um, like
I said, I relocated quite a few years ago.
My parents have now moved to the area.
You can't beat, um, Knoxville, Tennessee.
(07:58):
The weather is great.
The people are great.
There's so many opportunities in Knoxville.
So let's talk a little bit about admission for the Hall of Fame.
Um, currently our admission is 7.
95 for adults.
5.
95 for youth and seniors and children under the age of five are free.
So we are very reasonably priced.
I would say allow 45 minutes to an hour to go through the Hall of Fame.
(08:21):
It is a self guided tour, but you are welcome
to take a guided tour if we have advance notice.
We also do special group rates for groups over 25.
And then I'll talk a little bit about our induction ceremony.
So every year we induct another class of Hall of Famers into the Hall of Fame.
It's a very special time.
Uh, this past year we had seven inductees.
(08:43):
We have our induction ceremony April 26th.
You can go to the Hall of Fame YouTube channel
and WBHOF and see our induction ceremony.
I invite you if you're a basketball fan or if you're just somebody
looking at empowering women and girls to take a look at it.
Our induction ceremony is about an hour and a half long,
and it represents all that's good about basketball.
(09:05):
And I'll talk about last year because we don't know who's going
in class this year, and I'll talk a little bit about that.
So, our inductees last year were Simone Augustus, Maya Moore, Taj
McWilliams Franklin, Linny Spillville, Sue Phillips, and Violet Palmer.
Such a dynamic, diverse class, and they bonded.
So not only was it an interesting basketball
(09:27):
class, but it was like a family when they left.
And that's really what we want.
And we want that feel when people come to the Hall of
Fame, the induction ceremony is held at the Tennessee
theater, uh, which is the theater of, of Tennessee.
The state of Tennessee's theater is a historic theater, beautiful on the inside.
I mean, it's just breathtaking.
And so our ceremony is held there.
(09:47):
Um, it is streamed on ESPN plus.
It is broadcast on ESPNU five times after the ceremony.
Like I said, you're welcome to see that on our YouTube channel.
And it is a great opportunity for men, women, and children
to come and experience all that's good about basketball.
I mean, I feel like with our induction ceremony
every year, you will laugh, you'll cry.
(10:09):
Um, I still get shivers, um, when I see some of the
guests speak, and, and it's just a great moment.
This year, we also honored, um, the Cheney State 1981 82 basketball team.
They were one of the, they were the first team, um, from
a historical black college that played in the Final Four.
And they played in 1982 at the Final Four, which
(10:31):
was the very first NCAA women's Final Four.
They played Louisiana Tech.
They were a Division 2 school that went in as an independent.
And so they beat some of the big names, Kansas, Maryland to get there.
So we recognize them this year as Trailblazers of the Game.
And then we also recognize the Afghan Resettlement Group, which
(10:51):
was the A group of, um, the Afghan basketball team that were
stuck in Afghanistan when, when the, um, Taliban took over and
we were able to get them to Qatar and then to the United States.
And we were able to get them computers in their hands through the
State Department to make sure that they continue their studies.
And we, we brought successfully 21.
(11:12):
Um, Afghans, women, um, a couple of men, couple
of husbands and children to the United States.
They are now relocated to Knoxville.
Um, they have housing, they have jobs, and they're continuing their education.
So, that was our For the Love of the Game.
So, there's different components to it.
Our induction, Jeremy, that kind of reach out to everyone.
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(11:36):
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(11:58):
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The one that I, the one that hit me the biggest, the
induction ceremony, was two, it was two years ago.
And, um, it was the first time my stepdaughter, my, uh, was, uh,
was old enough to go but old enough to also understand, right?
So I wanted to make sure to take her.
So we got tickets and we took her.
Thank you, Channel 6 News.
(12:19):
Channel 6 News, thank you so much.
Um, so it was the story of the Dust Bowl, the story of the Dust Bowl.
And I sat there and she's She's a basketball player, um, loves the
game, really appreciates, has a good appreciation for it, she's
a post, she's very tall for her age, very tall, but I started
crying and my husband looks over and he's like, are you okay?
(12:41):
And I'm like, I don't, you know, I was like, this is
such a beautiful story, I had no idea that all of these
women that are still standing today Still standing today.
All of the things that we fight as women every day.
These women, I wouldn't be able to do what I do
without them, and I didn't even play basketball.
I would never be able to do the things that I do today without women like that.
(13:04):
And little Charlotte was like, oh, she's balling.
I'm like, yes, You know, people next to me are like, is this woman okay?
I'm like, it's a beautiful story.
But you never, you don't know what you don't know.
And the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame brings that to Knoxville.
It's an opportunity to know history that you did not know you needed to know.
The Dust Bowl Girls was such a great story.
(13:25):
It was a story about Oklahoma Presbyterian College.
And it was during the Dust Bowl.
And anybody that knows has done any history study
of the Dust Bowl, it was, it was a horrific time.
And these girls had nothing.
They said to their families and said, I will give your daughter a college
scholarship if they will play basketball for me and gave them that opportunity.
And it's, I think what we say with the Hall of
(13:47):
Fame is it's just giving someone an opportunity.
You know, and that person being strong and taking it.
And when you talk about this past history, you know, look at the shoulders that
we stand on, um, look at the men and women that have fought for us to be where
we are today, whether it's basketball or leadership for women or whatever it
is, you know, and my goal is to make sure that, that young girls know that,
(14:09):
you know, it's important to know that history and to respect that history.
Um, Because they're going to be the ones that
are going to be making history in the future.
And, um, they step in some very big shoes.
And, uh, we just want to make sure that they
know that they have a support system behind them.
Yes, they stand on very big shoulders, but they got some really good
people holding their feet that are holding them on their shoulders.
(14:32):
And I think that's what's important.
And, and that goes to men and women both.
I say, every man has a mother.
A lot of men have sisters.
A lot of men have daughters, you know, so it is not just a female thing.
It is, it is a total.
international support system that we have to support women.
I dare say Knoxville is at the forefront of that.
(14:53):
I dare say that.
You are exactly right.
And, and if we need to take the leadership of it, we will.
You know, it's, it's our passion to support the history of the game, but
it's also our desire to make sure that we get that story out internationally.
So tell us all about the, the, uh, the program
that you have, where, oh my gosh, the camp.
(15:14):
So we do summer camps, um, and when I say summer
camps, they're not necessarily skill camps.
They are camps for youth groups to come in, and it may be a
daycare, it may be a church group, but what we do is we facilitate
those, um, they take about two hours, and they do a rotation.
They, they have 45 minutes, um, that we rotate them around, and they'll have.
(15:36):
you know, 30 minutes, let's say, in the gift shop or 30
minutes in the theater and in the tour that we give them.
And so they'll do a scavenger hunt and learn more about the history.
They'll have their free time on the ball
courts to play, get some activity in there.
Uh, we'll do lessons, um, different lessons and they have a choice.
Our most popular lessons right now are STEM, science and math.
(15:59):
Um, and we relate all of our lessons back
to women's basketball or back to basketball.
Um, and those are very popular.
Then in the summer we, or in the winter, we do educational programs.
Um, for school systems and all of our curriculum that we teach follows
the state of Tennessee, um, curriculum that's required program.
I love this program.
Okay, so we've got access to the basketball courts, we've got the history
(16:22):
tour, we have the self guided tour, we have the group tour, we have
international recognition every year at the induction ceremony that's
famous women from all over the world, from all walks of life, and from
everywhere in the world who have contributed to the future of basketball.
What's, what's on the table for the growth of this?
Industry as a whole and the Hall of Fame.
I think for the industry as a whole, as a whole, my words aren't coming out, as
(16:47):
a whole, when we look at women's basketball, I mean, the future is so bright.
You know, and everybody right now is talking about Caitlin Clark
and is, you know, is Caitlin Clark going to stay in the WNBA?
Is she going to go on the three on three?
You know, who knows?
But it doesn't matter.
Those opportunities are there.
What I find so fascinating is women that are playing basketball right now on the
(17:07):
professional level, they do not have to go overseas to play and to make money.
They do not have to worry about maternity leave.
They can have families, they can do what they
want in their career, in their control of it.
And I think that is amazing.
I think sponsorship potential for the women has just started.
You know, um, you'll see more and more commercials.
(17:30):
Um, on TV that are geared towards women in sports and I think that's amazing.
The viewership of men watching women's sports is so high.
I will tell you for the Hall of Fame, our largest,
um, viewership of anything we do is, is men top women.
Now, not by a lot, but by seven or eight percent,
but you know, that's pretty cool to think.
(17:51):
That there are men.
Um, our induction ceremony is on June 14th for next year for 2025.
And it is Father's Day weekend.
And I say for every dad out there, what a way to celebrate Father's Day than
to have your daughter with you at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame to hear
those stories or to the daughters, you know, for me, someone that's older.
(18:12):
Bring my father, let him experience the history
of the game and what is going on with the youth.
Um, we also do a three on three tournament with induction.
So we, we really promote, um, celebrating those girls.
And our mission statement, I'll just mention that real quick,
our mission statement is to honor the past, Celebrate the future
(18:34):
and promote, celebrate the present and promote the future.
And it's very simple.
Honor, celebrate, promote.
And that's what we do.
Every day we honor the game and the history of those legends.
Then we celebrate what's going on today.
And then we're looking to the future.
What's happening in the future for women's basketball and, and the Hall of Fame.
And I think the growth of the Hall of Fame, you know,
we are always changing out exhibits, adding new things.
(18:57):
Um, looking at what's there.
The latest in women's basketball.
And I think that's the exciting part because we have the opportunity
to tell the story from the past and tell the story from today.
Um, so it's, it's ever changing.
Um, at the final four, we have exposure on a international level also.
And I think that's amazing.
Um, there's just so many opportunities for us to spread the
(19:20):
word of women's basketball and what it brings to the world.
I agree.
And I think that, again, just having that in Knoxville has, has
impacted the future of where Knoxville's business ownership,
recruitment, conversation, being able to say, there's, there
are people here, there are women here that want you to succeed.
Bring more of you.
Bring more of you.
(19:40):
And without, and without the support of, of everybody in the community,
For the last 20 years, we wouldn't have that, that capability.
We just so happen to be, like you said, standing on some pretty tall shoulders.
And I think we've had enough shoulders stacked
that we're standing pretty tall right now.
It's a great time to make sure that people understand the
history of what has led women's sports to where they are today.
(20:03):
Very relevant.
Absolutely.
And Julia, the thing that I like is, yes, I
pull the support from the basketball community.
But I feel the support from Knoxville.
Knoxville is a very strong, uh, woman friendly community.
And there are so many women and points of leadership
within our area, and I think that's very important.
(20:25):
I have a daughter, and I think it's very important for the young
girls to be in a community that shows you That women can do whatever.
They can be the head of a board.
They can be the president of a company.
There is so much opportunity and Knoxville is growing.
The companies that are in Knoxville, they hire women.
You know, it's not that they hire women
exclusively, but they look at that opportunity.
(20:45):
So, um, I think there's just so much potential in our area.
For not only women, but for sports.
I mean, sports are strong enough.
So, I mean, we have the University of Tennessee, we
have football, we have basketball there and soccer and
volleyball and swimming and all those great things.
But then we also have a baseball stadium that's being built
right next, not next door, but pretty darn close to next door.
(21:07):
Pretty darn close.
Yes.
So within a year, people are going to be able to come to the Hall of Fame.
They can park, they can walk to a baseball game, or they can go to
the baseball game and afterwards come to the Hall of Fame to cool off.
You know, there's all these opportunities, and if they want to take a
historical part, then, then you have, like I said, Blount Mansion, James White
Fort, uh, Mabry Hazen House is all right in there, Haley, um, Square with
(21:29):
Alex Haley's statue, and then you have the East Tennessee History Center.
There is so much to do.
Within a very short walking area of Knoxville.
Um, and I will tell you the one thing that I look for
when I moved to Knoxville is I looked at what culture
was there, you know, was it a strong community for women?
Because I had a young daughter.
Was it a community that had those cultural pieces, the ballets, the symphonies?
(21:51):
We have all of that.
Is it an involved community?
It is.
Downtown, there's something going on every weekend,
and it's not just one thing going on, it's five or six.
Um, Market Square is a lively place, morning, noon, and night.
You know, on the weekend, we have farmers markets,
Friday and Saturday, that are, that are just packed.
The whole area is just busy, and it's exciting,
and it's, It's a very dog friendly city.
(22:13):
You know, we have dog parks everywhere.
So, it's just a real good community to be in.
I love all of that.
I love you.
I love the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
I appreciate you.
Really quickly, where can people find information on the
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame other than just Googling it?
Obviously, that's, that's the easy way.
Where can they find you if they want to schedule
(22:33):
something or a private tour or to hold an event?
Sure, they can call us at the Hall 865 633 9000, but they can email me.
My email is dhardhart at wbhof.
com.
I'm happy to answer questions about the Hall of Fame,
Women's Basketball, or even about our community.
I've talked to people and shared areas.
(22:56):
That are good.
You know, if they, if they are bringing
children in, you know, where do they want to be?
Where are the opportunities?
Um, I'm happy to promote Knoxville any way I can.
Yeah.
I love that.
Thank you.
Follow around.
Are you ready?
Yes.
Favorite restaurant?
Texas Roadhouse.
Really?
I love, love the ribeye steak.
Love, love, love it.
(23:16):
Yes.
Their rolls.
The butter is.
And they have amazing baked sweet potato.
That's also, you know what, that's very true.
They do have the best baked potatoes in Knoxville.
Yeah.
Yeah,
you got me on that one.
That's the first time we've had that.
That's the first time.
And now I'm gonna go get a side salad and a sweet baked potato.
That's actually sounds delicious.
Um, there we go on that.
Favorite pub or brewery?
(23:37):
Mmm, Balter.
Oh, they have a great brunch as well.
And their beer has a higher alcohol content, I hear.
Rumor has it.
Thanks.
Sampler.
Okay.
Next one.
Um, favorite gas station location.
Ooh.
Weigel's on Campbell station.
Everybody has one.
This question is the fastest answered question of all of them.
(24:00):
Everybody has it.
Yes.
They're great.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I go, uh, Casey's on the way and Weigel's on the way out.
Yeah.
Got to get it on either side.
Absolutely, 100%.
100%.
Favorite grocery store?
Ooh, Publix.
Favorite local artist?
I'm gonna say Bobbi Cruz.
Ooh, I like that.
I like that a lot.
(24:20):
I've been recently into a new hue.
Okay.
Yes, she does all the plaster.
Yes, yes, yes.
Yeah, she's everywhere.
She's literally everywhere.
And Bobbi, she does murals.
She does amazing murals.
If you've ever been into an Aubrey's, which is another one of
my favorite restaurants, With the murals, she did all of those.
Nice.
Very nice.
(24:41):
Uh, there's a, there, what is that?
Um, her last name, I want to say it's Ledbetter, but I could be wrong.
She's been doing the, the outdoor murals lately.
She just did a mural.
Is that her?
She's great.
Yeah.
So again, all women, all these women out here doing amazing things.
Well, I will not keep you from the rest of your vacation.
Thank you for taking time for us today.
We appreciate you.
We will see you when you return back to Knoxville.
(25:03):
It is a well earned vacation.
But again, thank you very much for visiting with us today.
Thank you, Julia.
I appreciate you and all you do.
Absolutely.
Everybody, thank you so much for tuning
in to another episode of Connect the Knox.
I'm your host, Julia Hurley, connecting Knoxville to the nation.
Until next time.
Thank you for tuning into the show.
(25:23):
Make sure to like and subscribe, leave a five star review
on your podcast player of choice, and if you would like
information on moving to Knoxville, send me a private message.
As always, this is Julia Hurley connecting Knoxville to the nation.
Welcome everyone to another episode of Connect the Knox.
I'm your host, Julia Hurley, Connecting Knoxville to the Nation.
Today's guest is a fantastic representative of
all things leadership in the Knoxville area.
But also, you're gonna find out, across the world.
Please meet Dana Hart, the Executive Director
(00:28):
of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
And she's taking time for us today on vacation.
Dana, thank you so much for joining us.
Absolutely.
I am so happy to be here and it's good to see you Julia.
I am sitting here in rural Missouri, so having a relaxing vacation.
Thank you for that.
We appreciate your time so much.
It's very important to share the story of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
(00:51):
And you do that no matter where you are and you bring joy
to it and some education that I don't think people know.
Let's get started.
Dana, tell us about you, how you, uh, how you are in Knoxville,
and then let's start on the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
Well, I'm happy to tell the story of how I'm in
Knoxville, how I got associated with the Hall of Fame.
I'm originally from Missouri, which is why I'm here on vacation with family.
(01:13):
Um, but I moved to Tennessee probably about 28 years ago,
and my husband and I were living outside of Nashville.
I was working in Nashville at the time, and we decided
we needed to either move to Nashville or to Knoxville.
And kind of look at the choices.
And so we looked at all the options and we chose Knoxville.
And do not regret it.
We've been there, like I said, 27, 28 years.
(01:35):
We absolutely love East Tennessee.
It is a wonderful area.
The most welcoming people you will ever find.
So many variety of activities to do in a great community.
So I ended up at the Hall of Fame.
Actually, I was brought in by one of the original
Founders of the Hall of Fame, which is Gloria Ray.
She was the president and CEO of Knoxville Sports Corporation.
(01:57):
And, um, originally the Hall of Fame was supposed to be
in Jackson, Tennessee and West Tennessee because of the
AIAW tournaments at the time, which was the predecessor.
To the NCAA Final Four.
And so, um, unfortunately, Jackson, I guess, fortunately for us,
Jackson was unable to raise the funding to build the Hall of Fame.
And so Gloria Ray with the Sports Corp and, um, her good
(02:19):
friend, Pat Summit, which I think people know from the
University of Tennessee, they said, let's bring it to Knoxville.
And within a year, they had raised 10 million with the community's
help to build the Hall of Fame there in downtown Knoxville.
God, that's such a good, you know, Pat Summitt could do anything.
Pat Summitt could do anything and not only that, Pat Summitt could
motivate you to do anything or to at least think you could do anything.
(02:42):
Um, Pat was a very good friend of mine.
Um, a great coach.
She was a founding board member of the Hall of Fame, very actively involved.
And even after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's,
she brought her caregivers to the Hall of Fame.
Um, on her own just one day and announced and she said,
I want them to see me the coach because they know me the
person, which is the totally opposite of what most people do.
(03:03):
They know Pat the person or Pat the coach, but not Pat the person.
And so I thought that was very nice of her to want to share
her history within women's basketball with her caregivers.
You have a big responsibility in Knoxville to maintain
really, truly, uh, the image of women's sports.
And I don't know anyone that would have ever
(03:24):
filled that position better, even in Jackson.
I think it was a meant to be situation.
You are truly the beacon of women's sports education and growth
in this, in this area, in this market, carrying the legacy.
Uh, Pat Summitt's torch forward of making sure that we have eyes
on the prize, which is understanding, uh, that women, women can.
(03:44):
Absolutely, and Julia, thank you for saying that.
I appreciate your kind comments.
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame means the world to me.
I've been going on 23 years there.
I started about two years after it was started.
That's established there in Knoxville, Tennessee, and we've really grown
not just the physical structure and what is inside, but our outreach.
I mean, that is so important.
Yes, we are based in Knoxville, but more than
(04:05):
that, we are an international Hall of Fame.
We recognize coaches, players, contributors, veterans, and officials.
From around the world.
And I think that is so important to know
and we represent that in the Hall of Fame.
We tell the story from the beginning in 1892, Lucinda
Berenson at Smith College in Massachusetts to the current day.
I mean, we have Caitlyn Clark's jersey hanging in the Hall of Fame.
(04:27):
We have the Final four teams there.
And you know, I think it's very interesting watching
how, um, basketball has grown from 1892 to the present.
Women's basketball started two months after men's
basketball started in Massachusetts, and I think we're
one of the few sports that women just tagged along.
And, um, the reason why was to find physical activity
and engagement for students at Smith College.
(04:50):
And, um, Smith College is a great partner of ours now,
and, and we recognize that contribution to the game.
And then when you look at women's basketball of where it's going, um, it's,
it's, you know, In the news, non stop, um, good or bad, which is a good thing.
And there's no bad press, I don't think.
But what we're doing at the Hall of Fame is trying
to tell the story of the history of the game.
(05:12):
Because I feel like we are the keepers of the history.
But then also to share that story with the youth.
And to make sure that we're developing leaders for tomorrow.
That's really important to us to develop this leadership potential.
And so with the Hall of Fame, we have what we call, um,
the Her Academy and there's different components to it.
(05:32):
And one is, is leadership of young women through the
Pats Summit Foundation, telling Pats deaf and a dozen.
The other pieces are educating students through our Hero Program,
and then we have a Girl Scout piece, um, we have an Outreach piece.
So, there's all different things that we're doing to make sure
that the story of women's basketball goes beyond just basketball.
(05:53):
So, tell everybody about, I mean, one, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
If you've not been to Knoxville, please put
it on your list to visit when you come here.
Most of the people that listen to our podcast are relocations.
Uh, we're in the, in the, in almost the tens of thousands at this
point of listeners, so we're very excited that the podcast is growing.
Most of our listeners are from out of the area.
(06:14):
So, kind of talk about where the Basketball Hall of
Fame is located in terms of ease of getting to it.
It is very easy to get to.
Talk about, uh, pricing, and I then would like
for you to talk about the induction ceremonies.
I don't, uh, No, if people know that Knoxville, Tennessee
is the hub for these things, this is a big deal.
(06:34):
So the Hall of Fame is located right off Interstate
40 in downtown Knoxville, right on the riverfront.
Very easy to get to.
We have our own, um, exit.
It is Hall of Fame Drive.
You get off the exit off 40 and drive.
takes you straight to the Hall of Fame.
The World's Largest Basketball sits on the back rotunda of the
Hall of Fame, so you can't miss it once you are close to it.
(06:54):
And it's funny because I've had people
call and say, I'm kind of lost, where am I?
And I said, do you see the big basketball?
And so then they see it and they said, Oh, I feel so stupid.
But we have the World's Largest Basketball on the back of our building.
We are also within a block of downtown Knoxville has
grown so much and changed the tourist aspect of Knoxville.
(07:16):
There's so much to do.
Even as a resident, James White Fort is right next door to us and
that's the founder of Knoxville Blunt Mansion, one of the centers
of the Constitution is within walking distance of the block.
Within a block and a half, two blocks, you can be in downtown
Knoxville enjoying everything that that has to offer.
To offer Market Square, um, all the shops, all of the restaurants.
(07:37):
You can spend a whole day there and still not see everything.
Um, so downtown Knoxville is, is a vibrant part of our city.
And, and if you've not been to Knoxville in a while, please come back.
It has changed so much.
If you're looking at relocating, um, like
I said, I relocated quite a few years ago.
My parents have now moved to the area.
You can't beat, um, Knoxville, Tennessee.
(07:58):
The weather is great.
The people are great.
There's so many opportunities in Knoxville.
So let's talk a little bit about admission for the Hall of Fame.
Um, currently our admission is 7.
95 for adults.
5.
95 for youth and seniors and children under the age of five are free.
So we are very reasonably priced.
I would say allow 45 minutes to an hour to go through the Hall of Fame.
(08:21):
It is a self guided tour, but you are welcome
to take a guided tour if we have advance notice.
We also do special group rates for groups over 25.
And then I'll talk a little bit about our induction ceremony.
So every year we induct another class of Hall of Famers into the Hall of Fame.
It's a very special time.
Uh, this past year we had seven inductees.
(08:43):
We have our induction ceremony April 26th.
You can go to the Hall of Fame YouTube channel
and WBHOF and see our induction ceremony.
I invite you if you're a basketball fan or if you're just somebody
looking at empowering women and girls to take a look at it.
Our induction ceremony is about an hour and a half long,
and it represents all that's good about basketball.
(09:05):
And I'll talk about last year because we don't know who's going
in class this year, and I'll talk a little bit about that.
So, our inductees last year were Simone Augustus, Maya Moore, Taj
McWilliams Franklin, Linny Spillville, Sue Phillips, and Violet Palmer.
Such a dynamic, diverse class, and they bonded.
So not only was it an interesting basketball
(09:27):
class, but it was like a family when they left.
And that's really what we want.
And we want that feel when people come to the Hall of
Fame, the induction ceremony is held at the Tennessee
theater, uh, which is the theater of, of Tennessee.
The state of Tennessee's theater is a historic theater, beautiful on the inside.
I mean, it's just breathtaking.
And so our ceremony is held there.
(09:47):
Um, it is streamed on ESPN plus.
It is broadcast on ESPNU five times after the ceremony.
Like I said, you're welcome to see that on our YouTube channel.
And it is a great opportunity for men, women, and children
to come and experience all that's good about basketball.
I mean, I feel like with our induction ceremony
every year, you will laugh, you'll cry.
(10:09):
Um, I still get shivers, um, when I see some of the
guests speak, and, and it's just a great moment.
This year, we also honored, um, the Cheney State 1981 82 basketball team.
They were one of the, they were the first team, um, from
a historical black college that played in the Final Four.
And they played in 1982 at the Final Four, which
(10:31):
was the very first NCAA women's Final Four.
They played Louisiana Tech.
They were a Division 2 school that went in as an independent.
And so they beat some of the big names, Kansas, Maryland to get there.
So we recognize them this year as Trailblazers of the Game.
And then we also recognize the Afghan Resettlement Group, which
(10:51):
was the A group of, um, the Afghan basketball team that were
stuck in Afghanistan when, when the, um, Taliban took over and
we were able to get them to Qatar and then to the United States.
And we were able to get them computers in their hands through the
State Department to make sure that they continue their studies.
And we, we brought successfully 21.
(11:12):
Um, Afghans, women, um, a couple of men, couple
of husbands and children to the United States.
They are now relocated to Knoxville.
Um, they have housing, they have jobs, and they're continuing their education.
So, that was our For the Love of the Game.
So, there's different components to it.
Our induction, Jeremy, that kind of reach out to everyone.
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(11:36):
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sellers with the right opportunities, whether you're looking to buy or
sell a home right here in Knoxville, Lenor City, Clinton, or Fargate.
We have the expertise throughout every Knoxville surrounding area.
(11:58):
Call Just Homes Group today.
The one that I, the one that hit me the biggest, the
induction ceremony, was two, it was two years ago.
And, um, it was the first time my stepdaughter, my, uh, was, uh,
was old enough to go but old enough to also understand, right?
So I wanted to make sure to take her.
So we got tickets and we took her.
Thank you, Channel 6 News.
(12:19):
Channel 6 News, thank you so much.
Um, so it was the story of the Dust Bowl, the story of the Dust Bowl.
And I sat there and she's She's a basketball player, um, loves the
game, really appreciates, has a good appreciation for it, she's
a post, she's very tall for her age, very tall, but I started
crying and my husband looks over and he's like, are you okay?
(12:41):
And I'm like, I don't, you know, I was like, this is
such a beautiful story, I had no idea that all of these
women that are still standing today Still standing today.
All of the things that we fight as women every day.
These women, I wouldn't be able to do what I do
without them, and I didn't even play basketball.
I would never be able to do the things that I do today without women like that.
(13:04):
And little Charlotte was like, oh, she's balling.
I'm like, yes, You know, people next to me are like, is this woman okay?
I'm like, it's a beautiful story.
But you never, you don't know what you don't know.
And the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame brings that to Knoxville.
It's an opportunity to know history that you did not know you needed to know.
The Dust Bowl Girls was such a great story.
(13:25):
It was a story about Oklahoma Presbyterian College.
And it was during the Dust Bowl.
And anybody that knows has done any history study
of the Dust Bowl, it was, it was a horrific time.
And these girls had nothing.
They said to their families and said, I will give your daughter a college
scholarship if they will play basketball for me and gave them that opportunity.
And it's, I think what we say with the Hall of
(13:47):
Fame is it's just giving someone an opportunity.
You know, and that person being strong and taking it.
And when you talk about this past history, you know, look at the shoulders that
we stand on, um, look at the men and women that have fought for us to be where
we are today, whether it's basketball or leadership for women or whatever it
is, you know, and my goal is to make sure that, that young girls know that,
(14:09):
you know, it's important to know that history and to respect that history.
Um, Because they're going to be the ones that
are going to be making history in the future.
And, um, they step in some very big shoes.
And, uh, we just want to make sure that they
know that they have a support system behind them.
Yes, they stand on very big shoulders, but they got some really good
people holding their feet that are holding them on their shoulders.
(14:32):
And I think that's what's important.
And, and that goes to men and women both.
I say, every man has a mother.
A lot of men have sisters.
A lot of men have daughters, you know, so it is not just a female thing.
It is, it is a total.
international support system that we have to support women.
I dare say Knoxville is at the forefront of that.
(14:53):
I dare say that.
You are exactly right.
And, and if we need to take the leadership of it, we will.
You know, it's, it's our passion to support the history of the game, but
it's also our desire to make sure that we get that story out internationally.
So tell us all about the, the, uh, the program
that you have, where, oh my gosh, the camp.
(15:14):
So we do summer camps, um, and when I say summer
camps, they're not necessarily skill camps.
They are camps for youth groups to come in, and it may be a
daycare, it may be a church group, but what we do is we facilitate
those, um, they take about two hours, and they do a rotation.
They, they have 45 minutes, um, that we rotate them around, and they'll have.
(15:36):
you know, 30 minutes, let's say, in the gift shop or 30
minutes in the theater and in the tour that we give them.
And so they'll do a scavenger hunt and learn more about the history.
They'll have their free time on the ball
courts to play, get some activity in there.
Uh, we'll do lessons, um, different lessons and they have a choice.
Our most popular lessons right now are STEM, science and math.
(15:59):
Um, and we relate all of our lessons back
to women's basketball or back to basketball.
Um, and those are very popular.
Then in the summer we, or in the winter, we do educational programs.
Um, for school systems and all of our curriculum that we teach follows
the state of Tennessee, um, curriculum that's required program.
I love this program.
Okay, so we've got access to the basketball courts, we've got the history
(16:22):
tour, we have the self guided tour, we have the group tour, we have
international recognition every year at the induction ceremony that's
famous women from all over the world, from all walks of life, and from
everywhere in the world who have contributed to the future of basketball.
What's, what's on the table for the growth of this?
Industry as a whole and the Hall of Fame.
I think for the industry as a whole, as a whole, my words aren't coming out, as
(16:47):
a whole, when we look at women's basketball, I mean, the future is so bright.
You know, and everybody right now is talking about Caitlin Clark
and is, you know, is Caitlin Clark going to stay in the WNBA?
Is she going to go on the three on three?
You know, who knows?
But it doesn't matter.
Those opportunities are there.
What I find so fascinating is women that are playing basketball right now on the
(17:07):
professional level, they do not have to go overseas to play and to make money.
They do not have to worry about maternity leave.
They can have families, they can do what they
want in their career, in their control of it.
And I think that is amazing.
I think sponsorship potential for the women has just started.
You know, um, you'll see more and more commercials.
(17:30):
Um, on TV that are geared towards women in sports and I think that's amazing.
The viewership of men watching women's sports is so high.
I will tell you for the Hall of Fame, our largest,
um, viewership of anything we do is, is men top women.
Now, not by a lot, but by seven or eight percent,
but you know, that's pretty cool to think.
(17:51):
That there are men.
Um, our induction ceremony is on June 14th for next year for 2025.
And it is Father's Day weekend.
And I say for every dad out there, what a way to celebrate Father's Day than
to have your daughter with you at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame to hear
those stories or to the daughters, you know, for me, someone that's older.
(18:12):
Bring my father, let him experience the history
of the game and what is going on with the youth.
Um, we also do a three on three tournament with induction.
So we, we really promote, um, celebrating those girls.
And our mission statement, I'll just mention that real quick,
our mission statement is to honor the past, Celebrate the future
(18:34):
and promote, celebrate the present and promote the future.
And it's very simple.
Honor, celebrate, promote.
And that's what we do.
Every day we honor the game and the history of those legends.
Then we celebrate what's going on today.
And then we're looking to the future.
What's happening in the future for women's basketball and, and the Hall of Fame.
And I think the growth of the Hall of Fame, you know,
we are always changing out exhibits, adding new things.
(18:57):
Um, looking at what's there.
The latest in women's basketball.
And I think that's the exciting part because we have the opportunity
to tell the story from the past and tell the story from today.
Um, so it's, it's ever changing.
Um, at the final four, we have exposure on a international level also.
And I think that's amazing.
Um, there's just so many opportunities for us to spread the
(19:20):
word of women's basketball and what it brings to the world.
I agree.
And I think that, again, just having that in Knoxville has, has
impacted the future of where Knoxville's business ownership,
recruitment, conversation, being able to say, there's, there
are people here, there are women here that want you to succeed.
Bring more of you.
Bring more of you.
(19:40):
And without, and without the support of, of everybody in the community,
For the last 20 years, we wouldn't have that, that capability.
We just so happen to be, like you said, standing on some pretty tall shoulders.
And I think we've had enough shoulders stacked
that we're standing pretty tall right now.
It's a great time to make sure that people understand the
history of what has led women's sports to where they are today.
(20:03):
Very relevant.
Absolutely.
And Julia, the thing that I like is, yes, I
pull the support from the basketball community.
But I feel the support from Knoxville.
Knoxville is a very strong, uh, woman friendly community.
And there are so many women and points of leadership
within our area, and I think that's very important.
(20:25):
I have a daughter, and I think it's very important for the young
girls to be in a community that shows you That women can do whatever.
They can be the head of a board.
They can be the president of a company.
There is so much opportunity and Knoxville is growing.
The companies that are in Knoxville, they hire women.
You know, it's not that they hire women
exclusively, but they look at that opportunity.
(20:45):
So, um, I think there's just so much potential in our area.
For not only women, but for sports.
I mean, sports are strong enough.
So, I mean, we have the University of Tennessee, we
have football, we have basketball there and soccer and
volleyball and swimming and all those great things.
But then we also have a baseball stadium that's being built
right next, not next door, but pretty darn close to next door.
(21:07):
Pretty darn close.
Yes.
So within a year, people are going to be able to come to the Hall of Fame.
They can park, they can walk to a baseball game, or they can go to
the baseball game and afterwards come to the Hall of Fame to cool off.
You know, there's all these opportunities, and if they want to take a
historical part, then, then you have, like I said, Blount Mansion, James White
Fort, uh, Mabry Hazen House is all right in there, Haley, um, Square with
(21:29):
Alex Haley's statue, and then you have the East Tennessee History Center.
There is so much to do.
Within a very short walking area of Knoxville.
Um, and I will tell you the one thing that I look for
when I moved to Knoxville is I looked at what culture
was there, you know, was it a strong community for women?
Because I had a young daughter.
Was it a community that had those cultural pieces, the ballets, the symphonies?
(21:51):
We have all of that.
Is it an involved community?
It is.
Downtown, there's something going on every weekend,
and it's not just one thing going on, it's five or six.
Um, Market Square is a lively place, morning, noon, and night.
You know, on the weekend, we have farmers markets,
Friday and Saturday, that are, that are just packed.
The whole area is just busy, and it's exciting,
and it's, It's a very dog friendly city.
(22:13):
You know, we have dog parks everywhere.
So, it's just a real good community to be in.
I love all of that.
I love you.
I love the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
I appreciate you.
Really quickly, where can people find information on the
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame other than just Googling it?
Obviously, that's, that's the easy way.
Where can they find you if they want to schedule
(22:33):
something or a private tour or to hold an event?
Sure, they can call us at the Hall 865 633 9000, but they can email me.
My email is dhardhart at wbhof.
com.
I'm happy to answer questions about the Hall of Fame,
Women's Basketball, or even about our community.
I've talked to people and shared areas.
(22:56):
That are good.
You know, if they, if they are bringing
children in, you know, where do they want to be?
Where are the opportunities?
Um, I'm happy to promote Knoxville any way I can.
Yeah.
I love that.
Thank you.
Follow around.
Are you ready?
Yes.
Favorite restaurant?
Texas Roadhouse.
Really?
I love, love the ribeye steak.
Love, love, love it.
(23:16):
Yes.
Their rolls.
The butter is.
And they have amazing baked sweet potato.
That's also, you know what, that's very true.
They do have the best baked potatoes in Knoxville.
Yeah.
Yeah,
you got me on that one.
That's the first time we've had that.
That's the first time.
And now I'm gonna go get a side salad and a sweet baked potato.
That's actually sounds delicious.
Um, there we go on that.
Favorite pub or brewery?
(23:37):
Mmm, Balter.
Oh, they have a great brunch as well.
And their beer has a higher alcohol content, I hear.
Rumor has it.
Thanks.
Sampler.
Okay.
Next one.
Um, favorite gas station location.
Ooh.
Weigel's on Campbell station.
Everybody has one.
This question is the fastest answered question of all of them.
(24:00):
Everybody has it.
Yes.
They're great.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I go, uh, Casey's on the way and Weigel's on the way out.
Yeah.
Got to get it on either side.
Absolutely, 100%.
100%.
Favorite grocery store?
Ooh, Publix.
Favorite local artist?
I'm gonna say Bobbi Cruz.
Ooh, I like that.
I like that a lot.
(24:20):
I've been recently into a new hue.
Okay.
Yes, she does all the plaster.
Yes, yes, yes.
Yeah, she's everywhere.
She's literally everywhere.
And Bobbi, she does murals.
She does amazing murals.
If you've ever been into an Aubrey's, which is another one of
my favorite restaurants, With the murals, she did all of those.
Nice.
Very nice.
(24:41):
Uh, there's a, there, what is that?
Um, her last name, I want to say it's Ledbetter, but I could be wrong.
She's been doing the, the outdoor murals lately.
She just did a mural.
Is that her?
She's great.
Yeah.
So again, all women, all these women out here doing amazing things.
Well, I will not keep you from the rest of your vacation.
Thank you for taking time for us today.
We appreciate you.
We will see you when you return back to Knoxville.
(25:03):
It is a well earned vacation.
But again, thank you very much for visiting with us today.
Thank you, Julia.
I appreciate you and all you do.
Absolutely.
Everybody, thank you so much for tuning
in to another episode of Connect the Knox.
I'm your host, Julia Hurley, connecting Knoxville to the nation.
Until next time.
Thank you for tuning into the show.
(25:23):
Make sure to like and subscribe, leave a five star review
on your podcast player of choice, and if you would like
information on moving to Knoxville, send me a private message.
As always, this is Julia Hurley connecting Knoxville to the nation.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com