Clayton John Inducted in to US Bicycling Hall of Fame

This past weekend, in Davis, CA, The U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame inducted four individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of cycling. BMX Racing shared in the honors with the induction of former ABA President Clayton John receiving his induction into the Hall as a “BMX Organizer.”

James Raia, who covered the November 7 ceremony for Examiner.com commented that Clayton “With class, thanked his wife and daughters for their support through the difficult years when BMX was a fledgling sport.”

BMXNEWS.COM would like to add its congratulations to our friend. Clayton is a man who, in addition to his three-decade-long commitment to improving the sport of BMX Racing, always has an easy smile and eager handshake for all BMXers. The U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame is a more honorable place this Monday morning, with the addition of Clayton and his 2009 “classmates.”

The other inductees were:

Richard Cortright (Oct. 13, 1929—Sept. 4, 2009) was on three Olympic cycling teams (1952, 1956 and 1960) and won a Gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games. Mr. Cortright passed away from Cancer between the time his induction was announced and the ceremony formally inducting him.

Phyllis Harmon. The woman who, in 1937 at age 19, was responsible for resurrecting The League of American Wheelmen, the oldest bicycling organization in the United States. Now known as The League of American Bicyclists, the organization into which Ms. Harmon breathed new life so many years ago, has maintained a high, national profile during the time of her involvement.

Nelson Vails. Aside from no fewer than seven national and international cycling titles, including a Silver medal at the 1984 Summer Games, and breaking barriers as an African American athlete, “The Cheetah” was a cast member in the 1986 feature film “Quicksilver.”

Now, anyone who knows Clayton John has moved another ring closer in any game of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.”

Above Photo: BMXNOW.COM file.