To be the greatest champion in your sport, to revolutionize the way the game is played, and to be a societal leader all at once seems unthinkable, but that is who Bill Russell was. “To be the greatest champion in your sport, to revolutionize the way the game is played, and to be a societal leader all at once seems unthinkable, but that is who Bill Russell was,” the Boston Celtics said in a statement. He was at the March on Washington in 1963, when King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, and he backed Muhammad Ali when the boxer was pilloried for refusing induction into the military draft. The native of Louisiana also left a lasting mark as a Black athlete in a city - and country - where race is often a flash point. Often, that meant Wilt Chamberlain, the only player of the era who was a worthy rival for Russell.īut Russell dominated in the only stat he cared about: 11 championships to two. He remains the sport’s most prolific winner as a player and an archetype of selflessness who won with defense and rebounding while leaving the scoring to others. “Through the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.Ī Hall of Famer, five-time Most Valuable Player and 12-time All-Star, Russell in 1980 was voted the greatest player in the NBA history by basketball writers. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps,” Silver said. “Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's statement regarding the passing of Bill Russell.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that Russell was “the greatest champion in all of team sports.” That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6.”Īn announcement… /KMJ7pG4R5Z “And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded,” the family statement said. “Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. The statement did not give the cause of death. His family posted the news on social media, saying Russell died with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. sport - and marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., died Sunday.
Peace and love as we embark on this journey together.Celtics legend and 11-time NBA Champion Bill Russell died ‘peacefully’ Sunday at the age of 88.īOSTON (AP) - Bill Russell, the NBA great who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years - the last two as the first Black head coach in any major U.S.
Let our lights shine brightly in our communities as we seek to do God’s will.įeel free to visit this site for important information, updates, operational calendars, forms and miscellaneous items. My theme is Working Together for a Brighter Future, therefore, we must continue to walk hand in hand with our Lord and Savior and one another as we carry out the work of the Order. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over.
The Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami said “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive.
It is truly a pleasure to welcome you to the official website of the Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star of Virginia, Prince Hall Affiliation.ĬOVID-19 caused many changes in how we operated but we weathered the storm.