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Originally published Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 12:00 AM

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Lenny Wilkens, five others to be inducted into African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame

Joining Wilkens will be joined by James Donaldson, Otis Sistrunk, Zaid Abdul-Aziz, Michael Davis and Harold Mills.

By Percy Allen

Seattle Times staff reporter

Hall of Fame ceremony

What: African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

When: Reception 11 a.m.; lunch noon; ceremony

1 p.m.

Where: Outback Steakhouse in Bellevue.

Tickets: $75. Proceeds benefit the Hall of Fame's After School Youth Intervention Program. For tickets, contact Wendy Welch (404-312-2100) or Arif Khatib (510-508-3309).

Class of 2009

Zaid Abdul-Aziz: Born Donald A. Smith, former Sonic played 10 seasons in the NBA and authored the book "Darkness to Sunlight."

Michael Davis: Former football assistant who coached at Utah and California-Riverside.

James Donaldson: WSU grad and Seattle mayoral candidate played 14 years in the NBA, including a 1988 All-Star appearance.

Harold Mills: First black hydroplane driver to compete in Unlimited Lights circuit, Columbia Cup and Seafair.

Otis Sistrunk: Former Oakland Raiders defensive lineman who also had a brief acting and professional-wrestling career.

Lenny Wilkens: NBA Hall of Fame player and coach. Former Sonics executive and current basketball analyst.

Community award winners

Paula Houston: Record-setting competitive powerlifter who has won 10 national championships and four world titles.

Lorenzo Romar: UW men's basketball coach won his second Pac-10 Coach of the Year award after the 2008-09 season.

Joe Pace: Led Coppin State to the 1976 NAIA men's basketball title and played two seasons in the NBA.

Percy Allen

The African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame will induct legendary basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens along with five other former athletes at a ceremony in Bellevue this morning.

"We seek athletes within a region to induct and we make certain that first of all they are Hall of Fame caliber," founder Arif Khatib said. "We choose them based upon their achievements on the field of play and more importantly their commitment to community.

"These athletes have given of themselves away from their sport, and this is a way for them to be rewarded."

In addition to Wilkens, other inductees are former NBA player and Seattle Sonic James Donaldson, former NFL player Otis Sistrunk, former NBA player Zaid Abdul-Aziz, former college football assistant Michael Davis and retired hydroplane driver Harold Mills.

Washington men's basketball coach Lorenzo Romar will receive the Outstanding Coach award after leading the Huskies to their first outright Pac-10 championship last season.

Former NBA player Joe Pace, who helped the Washington Bullets to a 1978 NBA title before falling into poverty, is a recipient of the Don't Give Up award, and record-setting competitive powerlifter Paula Houston is being honored with the Athletic Achievement award.

Wilkens, who starred in Seattle as a player and coached the Sonics to their only NBA championship in 1979, is the headliner of the three-hour event that begins at 11 a.m. at Outback Steakhouse in Bellevue.

"I'm going to be in some great company, and that's my big reward," said Mills, the first black driver to race in the Unlimited Lights circuit. "These guys were out there in the big arenas and were top of the line. To be associated with them and to have my name alongside theirs is just awesome. That's the only thing I can say. It's just awesome. It's an honor and a privilege."

The hall was established in 2000, and today's event will be the third of five regional ceremonies. Events have been held in Oakland, Calif., and Riverside, Calif.

Past inductees include Lincoln Kennedy, Joyce Walker, Curt Flood, Eddie Robinson and Wilt Chamberlain.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company

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