by Associated Press
Published: Tue, August 21, 2007 - 4:53 am CST
Last Updated: Tue, August 21, 2007 - 9:04 am CST
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Former home run king Hank Aaron grew up a black child in segregated Mobile and learned to play baseball ina pecan grove -- too poor to own a bat.
He received a hero's welcome Monday at the state Capitol as he was sworn into the Alabama Academy of Honor. He joins prominent politicians, industrialists and luminaries from the state such as novelist Harper Lee and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.
He compared the tribute from his home state to his greatest honors, including most valuable player trophies, a World Series title and induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York.
The academy recognizes living Alabamians for accomplishments -- quote -- "reflecting great credit on the state."
Also inducted into the academy Monday were historian and author Leah Rawls Atkins; T. Michael Goodrich, CEO and chairman of the board of the Birmingham construction firm BE&K; and James Harrison, a founder and former CEO of Harco, Inc., a chain of Alabama drug stores that was sold to Rite Aid in 1997.
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