The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 19, Milford, Kosciusko County, 23 May 1984 — Page 34

the PAPER - WED., MAY 23, 1984

Palace of Sports is North Webster's showcase

The International Palace of Sports museum, North Webster, was built and specifically planned as a shrine for linking sports personalities to youth awards and the legend <®f Camelot. Dedicated on June 29, 1974, the museum is maintained by the International Palace of Sports, Inc.,, a nonprofit public foundation dedicated to the concept that youths may be inspired to higher achievement and better citizenship by identifying with sports champions. The museum has been an outstanding Indiana tourist attraction, famous for its Arthurian. design and unique beauty. The dedication day parade lasted three hours, with upwards of 50,000 sportsmen and parade viewers in attendance. Among those present on dedication day were O.J. Simpson, 1973 King of Sports; Jesse Owens, King of Track and Field; Pancho Gonzales, King of Tennis; Johnny W'eismueller, King of Swimming; Dick Weber, King of Bowling; and officials of Kiwanis International, Lions International and the bodies of various sports. The Palace of Sports foundation annually selects a KingM Sports on an international basis. The first made in 1972, was Mark Spitz, winner of seven Olympic gold medals in swimmiffg. Since that time, a long list of sports figures have been honored with the title of King of Sports. The 1973 winner was O.J. Simpson. Following Simrison, in order, were Hank Aaron (who was represented at the Mermaid Festival by Bobby Riggs), Archie Griffin, Bruce Jenner, A.J. Foyt, Larry Bird, Muhammad Ali, Mark Hermann, Wayne Gretzky and Fuzzy Zoeller. The reigning King of Sports is 1983 Indianapolis 500 champion Tom Sneva. Museum Displays The Palce of Sports museum displays 25 life-size wax figures of the Kings and Queens of Sports. Each figure is accompanied by a recorded biography explaining the obstacles the individual had to overcome and the hard work and dedication needed to become a champion. It is the Palace’s hope that these athletes will serve as models which young people can emulate. Over 100 oil portraits of sports greats and Queens of Lakes are hung in the Royal

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Gallery. Several sculptures, the world’s largest chess pieces, a silver chalice once owned by King George HI of England, a silver and gold jeweled knight, the handsome Schenkel Excalibur Swqrd, the priceless Mollenhour Bowl and much more are dn display in the second floor gallery. The newest exhibit is the bejeweled, 14 karat gold Hickok Belt that was awarded to Rocky Marciano in 1952. The belt was donated to the museum by local businessman William Bibler in the fall of 1983. 1 The museum is located on SR 13 between US 30 and USI6, just 30 miles south of the Indiana Toll Rjhd en the north-south continental ridge.Watersnorth of the museum flow to the St. Lawrencfe River and the Atlantic Ocean. Waters soutjh of the museum flow to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This fact is dramatized by the King of Sports Fountain on Fame, one of the Midwest’s largest insoor fountains, which sits in the Palace of Sports foyer. The country surrounding the Palace of Sports is one of nature’s garden spots. Over 100 lakes dot the wooded area, lending a strong- resemblance to King Arthur’s Camelot. The area comes alive each summer with vacationing students, many of whom attend religious, band and youth camps which abound throughout the region. Classic Saga * How the Palace of Sports came to be built • on Camelot Square in North Webster, which at the time was a classic saga of mid-America. The museum’s history can be traced back to 1946 when the North Webster Lions Club launched a youth-oriented Mermaid Festival to kick off the annual resort season. Built around a Queen of Lakes beauty pageant, cutie king and queen contest, basketball, skiing, bands, parade, softball, baseball and talent contests, the festival appealed to young people. After two decades, the festival grew from two days to a sevenday Youth Festival. In the late sixties, ABC’s famed sportscaster, Chris Schenkel, moved from New York to his native Indiana and took up residence on Tippecanoe Lake near North Webster. Soon thereafter, village bariker

and festival, booster, J. Homer Shoop, interested Schenkel and the community in likening the area to a 20th century Camelot of the Realm of Recreation. This transformation included the formation of a public youth foundation, the annual selection of a King of Sports and linking the festival and youth career awards to outstanding sports personalities. In 1970, Shoop and Schenkel joined with community leaders and international celeberties Bud Wilkinson, Hoagy Carmichael, Phil Harris and Byron Nelson, to form the International Palace of Sports. The foundation grants career awards to deserving and disadvantaged graduating high school seniors in the names of annually selected Kings of Spdrtsf stages an annual Tournament of Knights and makes grants to school, civic or religious organizations which sponsor the winning tournament contestant, and maintains the museum as a dramatic showcase for recognizing donors, sports persnalities and the the youths who receive awards. In 1972, the North Webster Lions Club, numbering just 44 members, pledged SIO,OOO

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A JOUSTING KNIGHT STANDS GUARD OVER THE FOUNTAIN OF FAME

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at SI,OOO per year to the Youth Foundation. In 1982 that pledge was completed; quite an accomplishment for a club of that size. In 1973, Kiwanis International, with North Webster resident Lorin J. Badskey as president, embraced the youth program. Kiwanis annually selects deserving young people in local communities throughout North America to receive King of Sports Youth Career Awards. The museum is open to the public from Memorial Day through Labor Day on Fridays and Saturdays from noon till 10 p)m., Sundays from noon till 5 p.m. and is open to tours by special appointment throughout the year. The foundation only accepts donations for youth grants ans there is no set admission charge. The foundation is supported by members, donors and patrons who are recognized in the museum on shields, checkerboards, plates,' portraits and medefllions as members of the various orders of King Arthur’s Court. Everyone is invited to become a member, and further information may be obtained by contacting the Palace of Sports, 834-7060.