Ali receives award in his hometown of Louisville
Published 2:00 pm Thursday, September 17, 2015
- Khalilah Ali, right, a former wife of Muhammad Ali, and Marvis Frazier, son of Joe Frazier, pose for a photograph before the unveiling of a statue dedicated to Joe, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. The 12-foot statue by Stephen Layne captures Frazier mid-strike, depicting the moment after he landed the punch that knocked down Muhammad Ali in the 15th round on March, 8, 1971. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Basking in the limelight again, Muhammad Ali heard a crowd chanting his name and had a medal draped around his shoulders
The former heavyweight boxing champion was in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday to receive an award from the University of Louisville. School President James Ramsey presented Ali the medal as the first-ever Grawemeyer Spirit Award winner for his role in inspiring others.
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The 73-year-old Ali, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, appeared on stage during the event.
Ali stayed seated but raised his right hand briefly to acknowledge the crowd, which chanted his name.
Ali’s humanitarian message has included promoting racial and religious harmony since retiring from boxing.
The event came a day after anti-Islamic messages were found spray-painted on the outside of the Louisville Islamic Center.
