“The Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars is truly fortunate to honor Dr. Sammy Lee, one of the most decorated and respected sports ambassadors of our generation,” said City of Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. “He is an outstanding individual who has made valuable contributions not only to Orange County, but to our country and the world. He has proven dreams are possible, and he is a fine role model to many.”

Dr. Lee, a first generation Korean-American, has garnered numerous awards and accolades during his illustrious career. He won gold medals at the 1948 London Olympic Games, and the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, and in doing so became the first male diver to win back-to-back gold medals. Upon retirement as an athlete, Dr. Lee continued his support of the Olympic Games and found success as the coach for the 1960 American Diving team. In 1976 he coached Olympian Greg Louganis to a silver medal. Dr. Lee also served as an Olympic torch runner and official Olympic flag bearer during the Opening Ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

His commitment to sport, health and physical fitness was and continues to be a constant in his life. Dr. Lee served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Carter and Bush. He was named winner of the 1953 James. E. Sullivan Award, given to the athlete who promotes sport and good sportsmanship. He was the first non-caucasian to receive the award. Dr. Lee was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1990.

Other notable recognitions and honors include being named Outstanding American-born Korean of the past 50 years, given by the American Korean Society (1967), and Orange County’s Sportsman of the Year (1976). He was honored as the first Grand Marshall of Orange County’s Korean Community Parade (1981), and he was inducted into Orange County Sports Hall of Fame (1984).

Dr. Lee received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Southern California, was one of the first two Asian American doctors to move into Orange County, and kept offices in Santa Ana and Orange. He retired from practice in 1991.

Dr. Lee’s star will be the 11th on the Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars. Past recipients include Walt Disney, Margaret and Carl Karcher, Henry and Susan Samueli, the Yorba family, the Taormina family, Gene Autry, Monsignor John Sammon, restaurateur Bruno Serato, The Righteous Brothers, and Donna and John Crean.

For more information please visit www.anaheim.net.

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ABOUT ANAHEIM - The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nation's premier municipalities and is California's 10th most populous city. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 345,500 residents and more than 3,200 City employees. The municipal corporation's annual budget is $1.4 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winning U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team, and the 2008 Olympic Silver Medal winning U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, The Grove of Anaheim, The Shops at Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.