President Barack Obama awarded the nation’s highest civil honor to Dr. Maya Angelou, Warren Buffett, Stan Musial and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, along with several others, for their contributions to society in a ceremony at the White House Tuesday.
“Bill Russell, the man, is someone who stood up for the rights and dignity of all men,’’ Obama said. “He marched with King; he stood by Ali. When a restaurant refused to serve the black Celtics, he refused to play in the scheduled game. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players, and made possible the success of so many who would follow. I hope that one day, in the streets of Boston, children will look up at a statue built not only to Bill Russell the player, but Bill Russell the man.’’
Now all Boston has to do is put up a Bill Russell statue outside of the Boston Gardens. The medal President Barack Obama presented Bill Russell with was the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
