LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Months after the relaunch of Hometown Heroes 2.0, six new honorees will be featured on banners across Louisville.
The Greater Louisville Pride Foundation said they received about 44 nominations which were then narrowed down to six.
The organization said each member who was nominated had been recognized nationally, some internationally, for being successful in their respective fields and their pride in being from or associated with Louisville.
“This enthusiastic response of so many outstanding nominations once again underscores the community’s desire to show pride in Louisville by recognizing the city’s most famous sons and daughters,” Mike Sheehy, GLPF’s President and founding member, said.
Who are the nominees?
Stephen “Static Major” Garrett Jr.: The late Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer was a member of R&B trio Playa and produced hits for Aaliyah, Ginuwine and Destiny’s Child. He posthumously shared the Best Rap Song award for Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop” in 2009. Garrett also produced a slew of R&B tunes before he passed away in 2008.
Dr. Alan Lansing: Lansing performed the first kidney transplant in Kentucky and the first spleen transplant in the world. Lansing is credited with performing the second artificial heart (Jarvik) in Louisville as well as other open-heart surgeries. He also established and directed the Heart Institute at Audubon Hospital for 15 years.
Rajon Rondo: The Louisville native and record-breaking University of Kentucky basketball player was recently inducted in the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame. The two-time NBA champion has been in the league for 18 years but always returns home to give back to kids and the community with his Rajon Rondo Foundation.
Coach Howard Schnellenberger: The trailblazing University of Louisville coach and Flaget High School grad is famously known for building back the Cards football program to prominence. Under Schnellenberger, the school won their fourth and fifth bowl games in school history. The Howard L. Schnellenberger Football Complex at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium is named after him.
Mildred and Patty Hill: If you’ve ever sang “Happy Birthday” then you know these two sisters composed the famous melody for the song we know and love today. The Louisville natives were early childhood educators, songwriters and members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
John Y. Brown Jr. and the former Mrs. Eleanor “Ellie” Brown: The late governor and his first wife funded Actor’s Theater, helped save the Downtown YMCA, were instrumental in the development of the Kentucky Center for the Arts and the Ali Center. John was also credited for bringing UPS to Louisville and Ellie, the first chairwoman of the board of the Kentucky Colonels ABA team.
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