RARE BART STARR STATUE ON DISPLAY AT PACKERS HALL OF FAME; FANS ENCOURAGED TO MAKE OFFER TO PURCHASE ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEM
Bart Starr, the Packers' legendary quarterback who led the team to five championships during the 1960s, continues to hold a prominent place in the hearts and minds of the multitudes of Green Bay fans.
Memorabilia involving Starr likewise holds a special appeal for fans of the Green and Gold.
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame recently received a donation of such a Starr piece. It's a life-size statue that was created more than 20 years ago for the 'Just for Feet' athletics stores. It weighs more than 350 pounds and, including the base, stands over 7 feet tall. The company, which was founded in 1977 and is no longer in existence, was headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., and had about 15 of the statues created for a promotional program with Starr. Statues of prominent players in the other professional sports also were created, including Babe Ruth.
It is unknown how many of the statues are still in existence.
The statue, which currently is located in the Lambeau Field Atrium at the top of the stairwell to the Hall of Fame, was donated by Kevin Luoma, a Wisconsin native and soldier stationed in El Paso, Texas. Luoma acquired the statue through some friends and wanted to donate it to the Hall.
The Hall in turn received Luoma's permission to display the statue for fans to see and then sell it to raise funds. The statue recently has been reconditioned and the Hall of Fame is entertaining qualified offers from interested buyers. For more information on purchasing the statue, potential buyers are asked to please contact Denny Tattum (920/965-6983) at the Hall of Fame.
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The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Inc. is a non-profit corporation independent of the Green Bay Packers that guides the Hall as a historic national sports venue and educational resource to the Green Bay community and the state of Wisconsin. The Hall raises funds through its annual induction banquet, golf outing and other events to develop new exhibits and expand its archives. Historic memorabilia donated by individuals to the Hall may qualify as tax-deductible gifts. Originally established in 1967 as a temporary display in the concourse of the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena, the Hall moved into its own facility in 1976 near Lambeau Field. In 2003, it was relocated to a spectacular new, 25,000-square foot facility in the Lambeau Field Atrium. The Hall of Fame is open on non-game days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours may vary on game days and holidays. For more information, contact the Hall of Fame at 920/569-7512.
