— Best Museum (Sports)
Muhammad Ali Center
The Basics
Opened: 2005
Neighborhood: Downtown
Self-description: “Continue Ali’s legacy and inspire greatness.”
Website: alicenter.org
Best of Louisville Stats
Total nominations: 3
Total wins: 1
First nomination: 1999, Best Anticipated Local Attraction
Also nominated for: 2006, Best Building Architecture
Total wins for Ali himself: 4, including 1998 for Best Athlete and 2010 for Best Celebrity You’d Most Like to Meet
The Voting Academy Says
“A calming, quiet vibe transports you back to a time that reminds you it’s OK to grow, learn and change. The beautiful photos, paintings and the space itself remind us all to talk to each other. And remind us that we can reach our goals while simultaneously trying to change the world.”
“There is this great short film the museum shows about the week of Ali’s memorial and how the city came together.”
“Go to the museum, then to see Ali’s gravesite in Cave Hill Cemetery.”
“Muhammad always took Louisville with him no matter where he went. I think it makes me feel connected to Louisville because I don’t have to explain where I’m from. I just mention Muhammad Ali and people instantly know.”
We asked the Ali Center to share something that says something essential about them…
“The robe Elvis gave Muhammad Ali. It is one of our signature museum items and symbolizes our telling of Muhammad’s entire story, including moments people may not know. There’s also been extensive repair and conservation work done for this piece, which signifies our commitment to making sure his story is preserved for future generations of changemakers.”
Scroll Credits
The Muhammad Ali Center
Lonnie Ali
Co-founder and lifetime director
DeVone Holt
President and CEO
Ingrid Gentry and Roula Allouch
Board co-chairs
Erin Herbert
SVP of operations
Ashley Parrott
VP of development
KJ Martin
AVP of facilities
Anthony Ford
Building services manager
Bess Goldy
Director of exhibits and collections
Annie Moore
Senior marketing manager
Amelia McGrath
Collections manager and archivist
Victoria Carrier
Senior sales manager
Annie Varghese
Programs manager
Garret McCorckle
Senior manager of education and programs
Dustin Vogt
Digital content manager
Everett Morton
Special event coordinator
Rachel Thomas
Senior manager of guest experiences and museum store
Trevon Maddox
Team lead of guest services and museum store
Veronica Leopold
Building services lead
Nick Stephenson
Director of finance
Peyton Gose
Sales and data coordinator
Nadia Pratt, Maggie Parker and Aden Jones
Guest experience and museum store associates
D’Aveion Talbert, Robert Carraway, Tamera Hardaway
Building services technicians
Board of Directors
Dr. Muhammad Babar, U of L Health physician
Michael Baer, president and co-owner, Fusioncorp
Rufus Friday, CEO, consultant and marketing strategist, Rufus Friday Consulting
Kris Sirchio, founder/CEO, Net Positive/Sirchio Family Office
Katina Whitlock, senior manager of community engagement, GE Appliances
Members-at-Large
Rashaad Abdur-Rahman, founder and CEO, Racial Healing Project
Kim Baker, president and CEO, Kentucky Center
Brad Blackwell, SVP, general counsel and corporate secretary, Churchill Downs
Mary Casey, senior associate, KY Financial Group
Emilie Deutsch, retired VP of original programming and features, CBS Sports
Dr. Lee Gill, VP for diversity, equity and inclusion, U of L
Colin Gottlieb, UK media executive
Kristel Jensen, senior VP, Fifth Third Bank
Dr. Christopher Jones, associate professor, surgery director, section of hepatobiliary and transplant surgery, U of L School of Medicine
Dr. Amani Kettaneh, department of early childhood, rehabilitation counseling and special education, University of Kentucky
Derrick Littlejohn, senior VP, commercial banking marketing executive, PNC Bank
Christian McBride, American jazz bassist, composer and arranger, the Christian McBride Co.
Peter Olsson, serial entrepreneur; Icons Network | GeniusSHIFT
Crystal Peterson, executive VP, chief Inclusion and global community relations officer, Brown-Forman
Karmen Powell, manager, distribution electric engineering, LG&E and KU Energy
John Ramsey, director of city partnerships
Jamie Salter, chairman and CEO, Authentic Brands Group
Robbie Tindall, VP, chief of staff to President and CEO, Humana
Peter Villegas, co-chair of Actum and chair of California State Athletic Commission
Stacey Wade, CEO/ECD, NIMBUS
Jean West, Jean West’s Medical Digest
Tom Williams, attorney, Stoll Keenon Ogden
Emeritus Members
Ina Brown Bond, River Bend Farms
Robert Croft Jr., attorney, Humana
Ralph de Chaber, retired SVP and chief diversity officer, Brown-Forman
Laura Douglas, interim President and CEO, West End Opportunity Partnership
Bennie Ivory, retired media executive, journalist, consultant
International Advisor
Geoff Thompson, chair, London Youth Games