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Crusader for girls high school athletics will be honored at N.Ky. Sports Hall of Fame meeting


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Joan Mitchell received numerous awards for her role in expanding girls high school sports in Kentucky before she passed away on Dec. 3. Her work will be recognized once again Wednesday as this year’s recipient of the Pat Scott Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame.

Joan Mitchell

Mitchell was a physical education teacher at Holmes High School for 30 years. She coached girls basketball, volleyball and softball teams during her career.

After the federal government passed Title IX legislation prohibiting sexual discrimination in public school programs, she was a fervent crusader to provide equal opportunities for girls in Kentucky high school athletics.

Mitchell was widely recognized for promoting girls sports. In 2004, was was named a Legend In Her Own Time by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. On Wednesday, she will be honored posthumously by the local sports community.

There will be other award presentations during the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame meeting that’s scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Villa Hills Civic Club.

New members inducted to the hall of fame will be Newport graduate Gary Simon Sr. for baseball and softball, Ludlow graduate Wayne Troxel for football, basketball and baseball and Dixie Heights graduate Emily Culbertson-Tracy for golf.

Buddy Waite of Ludlow High School will receive the Bill Cappel Lifetime Achievement Award. Jason French, curator at Behringer-Crawford Museum, will receive a Certificate of Appreciation.

The guest speaker will be Randy Marsh, a former Major League Baseball umpire. The ceremony is open to the public and a social hour will take place afterwards with free coneys from Skyline Chili.


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