ABA SUPPORTS BLACK HISTORY M– USEUM

AND DIVERSITY HALL OF FAME & TRAVELING M– USEUM

Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced that it is supporting the development of the Black History Museum of Indianapolis as well as the Diversity Hall of Fame. “This is a natural for us,” stated Joe Newman, ABA Co-Founder. “The ABA is the most diversified professional sports league in the US with over 75% of our owners being African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Women, Native American and Disabled. Diversity is at the heart and soul of the ABA.”

The project is being spearheaded by Rickie Clark, President and CEO of The Diversity Hall of Fame, which will also include a traveling museum. “We are all about diversity, inclusion and multi-culturism,” added Clark. “We espouse equal opportunity for all and our Diversity Hall of Fame will show how conclusively how important diversity is to America and the world.”

Clark is a graduate of North Central High School in Indianapolis. Rickie went on to pursue music and broadcasting from Ball State University and IUPUI. He also received certification from the Humble School of Deception and Milwaukee Technical College in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

A year into college, Clark had already begun a career as on on air personality for Indianapolis radio station WTLC. He was voted Disc Jockey of the Year in a 1972 poll taken by Billboard Magazine. In 1978, Rickie founded and became president of Circle City International Record Company. In 1980, he merged his company with Tyscot Records, a gospel music label. During this period, Rickie wrote and produced many songs with such artists as Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, After Seven, Blue Magic and James Brown.

He also help create and put on the air, hip-hop radio station WHHH-FM, then later smooth jazz WYJZ and WDNI-TV. He was the publisher/CEO/founder of Indiana Minority Business Magazine, Indiana Parenting Magazine, the Street Language Dictionary and the youth magazine, Hip Hop Chatter.

In addition to his radio/TV and music careers, Rickie served as a member of the Indianapolis Police Department from 1977 to 1994 in various areas as an officer and detective including street patrol, accident investigations, vice, community affairs, the Mayor’s Office, and gang unit. Rickie was also co-founder of the Fairness in Law Enforcement (FILE), the local chapter of the National Black Police Association.

“The Black History Museum of Indianapolis will be different from any other black history museum in that it will recognize every African-American, past, present or in the future for the contributions he or she has made,” commented Clark. “The theme is “You Deserve a Place in History,” and the BHM will feature plaques and displays from everyone who would like to be recognized as well as displaying artifacts from those who have achieved past fame like well-known Indianapolis leaders Amos Browen,

Madame C.J. Walker, Rev. Charles Williams, Dr. Frank Lloyd, and Congresswomen Julia Carson.”

For more information, contact Rickie Clark at 317 490 4950, or email[email protected]or Gina Scott Hawkins at 317 523 5029 or [email protected] or visit:

www.americanbasketballassociation.org

www.abaliveaction.com