JS Article on Hank Raymonds

[mikem91288]

Enjoy. Nice piece by Todd.


http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/106356683.html

[77ncaachamps]

Saw this in the Comment section: http://www.bridgingthegap-hcr.org/kickoff.html

Anyone know how far along Robert is with his fundraising?



Article:

Old Mecca Floor Has New Owner
By Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
April 20, 2009

The famous Robert Indiana-designed court that was a fixture for years at the old Milwaukee Exposition and Convention Center and
Arena has a new owner and a new mission.

The Bridging the Gap Learning Center, 1017 N. 17th St., has purchased the floor and plans to install it at the newly named Coach
Hank Raymonds Educational Center.

The new educational center is named after former Marquette University coach Hank Raymonds. He was Marquette's head coach
from 1977 to 1983 and was assistant coach from 1961 to 1977. Raymonds was an assistant to Al McGuire when Marquette won the
men's basketball national championship in 1977.

Robert Byrd, president and founder of Bridging the Gap, who played for Raymonds, said the new center will provide support and
help to at-risk youths and the community.

Byrd said that before the floor is put down at Bridging the Gap, the center must complete a $2 million capital campaign to expand
the existing building.

"We are very excited to have a Milwaukee icon featured in our new building," Byrd said in a statement. "The MECCA floor stands as a
symbol of integrity and perseverance, two core values that embody our teachings at the center."

The MECCA floor was used for major sports and entertainment events from 1977 to 1995 at MEC

[The Lens]

FWIW, this article was front page, above the fold on Saturday.  A great layout for Coach Raymonds.