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ent001476-042

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ent001476-042
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    University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Libraries

    SPORTSMEN'S CLUB for CITY OF HOPE The Sportsmen's Club for the City of Hope was born in 1939 when a handful of sports-minded men and women decided to "do a little bit more" for the institution that since 1913 has been on the firing line against man's catastrophic diseases. It takes large amounts of money to sustain programs of patient care, research and medical education for which the non- sectarian City of Hope is famous the world over. And this is the reason this humanitarian group was determined to come up with some enterprise that would add more money to the City of Hopes' hungry coffers. Among the Club's first gathering was Victor Carter, former president of Republic Studios, and, like many of the original members, is still very active in Club affairs. Since that initial meeting, through various undertakings, the Sportsmen?╟╓s Club has raised more than $20,000,000 for the City of Hope. The Club's first sports venture was sponsorship of the Hollywood Stars vs Bulldogs, two local semi?╟÷pro football teams, at Gilmore Field. It lost money.,.. There were a lot of great action-fighters on the scene. The Club decided on an annual "Fight for Lives" card, with the best scrappers only as headliners. The Club made money.,.. Among the boxers who appeared on the "Fight for Lives" programs were Cecil Hudson, Art Arragon, Lauro Salas, Carlos Chavez and many others. Suddenly the fight game (for many reasons) lost its public appeal. It became necessary for the Club not to identify with the sport. So, from 1964 to 1967 there was a void?╟÷no sports programs were scheduled. In 1967 "Victor" was born. "Victor" is like "Oscar" ?╟÷ the highest tribute sportsmen can bestow upon an athlete. The first Sportsmen'sWorld Awards program staged in 1967 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel honored the following athletes: Greta Anderson, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Doc Blanchard, May Sutton Bundy, Georges Carpentier, Glenn Davis, Ralph Guldahl, Rafer Johnson, John Paul Jones, Duke Kahanamoko, Red Kelly, Sandy Koufax, Johnny Longden, Joe Louis, Alice Marble, Robert Mathias, Willie Mays, Patricia McCormick, Louis Meyer, Sr., George Mikan, Ernie Nevers, Paavo Nurmi, Janice Lee York Romary, lax Schmeling and Casey Stengel. -00- <K'3