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It has been an honor to sponsor the following Honorarium Citation for Mr. Herb Didrickson of Sitka who will be inducted into the Alaska Hall of Fame:
“The 28th Alaska State Legislature recently honored Mr. Herb Didrickson, who will be inducted into the Alaska Hall of Fame, Class of 2013, on February 26, 2013, in Anchorage.
The list of athletes who have already been inducted into the Alaska Sports Hal of Fame are impressive and includes professional and collegiate basketball players, internationally known mountain runners, mountain climbers of national fame, Olympic medalists, baseball pioneers, the founder of the Iditarod, a five-time Iditarod champion, a World Champion musher, and all pro NFL players, to name just a few.
Herb is a splendid example of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame mission statement and he is believed to be one of the finest basketball players ever seen in the past seven decades. He was a good fit in educating and teaching Alaskans and visitors to the state about people, events and moments in Alaskan sports that brought distinction to the state.
Herb’s esteemed historical basketball episode consists of the following: Sitka BIA Elementary 1939-1942; Sheldon Jackson High School 1944-1946; Sheldon Jackson Junior College 1947-1948; Sitka ANB 1949-1964; Old-Timers competition (local, Southeast, Regional and National) 1965-1990s.
His colleagues, friends and family expressed that they have not seen Herb’s equal in Alaska and truly believe that Herb was far greater than anyone who matriculated southward to participate in big time NCAA universities. Herb had no peer when it came to dribbling the ball, one of the many “weapons” he possessed. He resorted to “behind the back dribble” only when it was advantageous, and was the most fundamentally sound player ever seen. Speed was another asset, allowing him to easily penetrate the opposing team’s defense while being very difficult to contain when he was playing offense.
Herb is highly respected and is very popular in Sitka as well as across Alaska. He was greatly involved in the Sitka community and spent many years with the Sitka ANB and Sitka Tribe of Alaska. He has supported community activities for many years as well as offering the same support to youth activities locally as well as on the State level. He is a life-member of the Presbyterian Church and a strong supporter of Sheldon Jackson College.
A street in Sitka was recently named in his honor. Sheldon Jackson College christened its gymnasium the “Herb Didrickson Gym.” He was given the “Christian Citizenship Award” a few years ago, which is the highest award given by the College. He was inducted into the following Halls of Fame: Sheldon Jackson High School; Sheldon Jackson College; Sitka ANB; Gold Medal Juneau Lions Club basketball tournament; and the Alaska High School Activities Association.
After 30 years of service, Didrickson retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He was a teacher in the Industrial Department of Mt. Edgecumbe High School. He was coach for the freshmen and junior varsity boys’ basketball teams, and was the assistant coach for the varsity boys’ team. The members of the Twenty-eighth Alaska State Legislature extend their sincere congratulations to Herb Didrickson on his long-overdue and well-deserved induction to the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.”
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