The President’s Legacy Award is given to a community member who has contributed to a career of work and leadership to youth and community sports and physical activity. The Award recognizes their tireless effort serving young people and their willingness to go beyond what was expected for their community.
2024
Frank White
Frank White is a long-time sports and recreation professional, author and Minnesota sports community advocate. Frank is currently a retired curator, historian and author. His recent book entitled “They Played for the Love of the Game” chronicles the baseball participation of African Americans in Minnesota. It is one of several of his projects focusing on the history of sport in the St. Paul. Through his speaking engagements for various organizations and libraries, Frank promotes the legacy of African American sports especially baseball in the Rondo Neighborhood. One of his exhibits was featured at the Major League Baseball All Star Game Fan Fest when it was hosted in Minneapolis. His own participation and advocacy for sports and recreational participation in Minnesota is vast. Basketball and fast pitch softball were early foundations for his exemplary roles in sports leadership positions. For 30 years he was a high school and college basketball official and rules clinician. He also served as a Hall of Fame official and evaluator and is currently on the DEI Advisory Committee for the Minnesota State High School League. Prior to his retirement, Frank was a Governor appointee of the Minnesota State High School League board of directors. As a sports legacy member of our state, additional sports leadership appointments include League Director of the Minnesota Twins RBI Baseball League, state chairman for Minnesota AAU Basketball, Minnesota Sports Federation Supervisor of Officials, the Richfield Parks and Recreation Manager of programs and Athletics and a youth coach for over 40 years. Mr. White’s previous projects as a curator of history and sport participation included installing playing surfaces in St. Paul, renaming historic sports fields for St. Paul African American sports icons and recognizing St. Paul sports hero and legendary official, Jimmy Lee into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame.
