Editing Muhammad Ali (section)

===In Ali's hometown===
In 1978, shortly after becoming heavyweight champion of the world for the third time, and three years before his permanent retirement, Ali received a round of accolades in his hometown of Louisville. In September, at a tribute ceremony held at [[Fairgrounds Stadium]], then-Governor of Kentucky [[Julian Carroll]] proclaimed 1978 the "Year of Ali" and presented to Ali the Governor's Distinguished Service Award. Carroll said he signed the proclamation because "no single day or week – or even month – ever could contain the deeds of this man."<ref>{{cite news |last=Aubespin |first=Mervin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-muhammad-ali-receive/136552375/ |title=Louisville lets Ali know it's in his corner |date=September 22, 1978 |work=[[The Courier-Journal]] |pages=1, 3 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref> In November, the [[Louisville Board of Aldermen]] voted 6–5 to rename downtown thoroughfare Walnut Street to [[Muhammad Ali Boulevard]], via an ordinance shortly signed into law by then-Mayor [[William B. Stansbury]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-louisville-mayor-sig/136553492/ |title=Mayor signs law naming street for Ali |date=November 29, 1978 |work=[[The Courier-Journal]] |page=A2 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref> This was controversial at the time, as within a week 12 of the 70 street signs were stolen.<ref name="Hill">{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Hill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-growing-acceptance-o/136541417/ |title=Ali stirs conflicting emotions in hometown |work=[[The Courier-Journal]] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |date=November 19, 2005 |page=K5 |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:AliCenter.jpg|thumb|The [[Muhammad Ali Center]], alongside Interstate 64 on Louisville, Kentucky's riverfront]]
As the street renaming was under consideration, a committee of the [[Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky)|Jefferson County Public Schools]] (Kentucky) considered renaming Ali's alma mater, [[Central High School (Louisville, Kentucky)|Central High School]], in his honor. Despite an initial endorsement by then-[[Jefferson County Judge/Executive]] and current [[U.S. Senate Minority Leader]] [[Mitch McConnell]], and an affirmative vote by the Jefferson County [[Fiscal Court]], the committee decided not to proceed, citing long-time school tradition and alumni disagreement, even though they urged other ways to honor Ali in the community.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kaukas |first=Dick |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-jcps-declines-to-ren/136542679/ |title=A decision goes against Muhammad Ali |date=September 30, 1978 |work=[[The Courier-Journal]] |page=9 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref> In time, Muhammad Ali Boulevard—and Ali himself—came to be well accepted in his hometown.<ref name="Hill"/>

In November 2005, Ali and his wife Lonnie Ali opened the $54{{nbsp}}million, 93,000{{nbsp}}ft<sup>2</sup>, non-profit [[Muhammad Ali Center]] in downtown Louisville.<ref name="Crouse-2016" /><ref name="Coomes">{{cite news |last=Coomes |first=Mark |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-cost-size-and-gener/136568781/ |title='The Greatest'; Party lifts curtain on a shining tribute to Ali |date=November 20, 2005 |work=[[The Courier-Journal]] |page=A8 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref> In addition to displaying his boxing memorabilia, the center focuses on core themes of peace, social responsibility, respect, and personal growth.<ref name="Coomes"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Shafer |first=Sheldon S. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-basically-what-the-a/136568273/ |title='Center will revolve around ideas'; Memorabilia just part of mission |date=November 19, 2005 |work=[[The Courier-Journal]] |page=K2 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://alicenter.org/exhibits-and-events/ |title=Exhibits & Events |website=alicenter.org |date=February 17, 2023 |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>

On January 16, 2019, the Louisville Regional Airport Authority voted to change the name of the city's main airport to "[[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport]]" in honor of Ali.<ref name="Ali Airport">{{Cite press release |url=http://www.flylouisville.com/wp-content/uploads/Release-Mayor-Fischer-celebrates-decision-to-rename-Louisville-airport-to-honor-Muhammad-Ali-1-16-19_FINAL_FOR_WEB.pdf |title=Mayor Fischer celebrates decision to rename Louisville airport to honor Muhammad Ali |date=January 16, 2019 |publisher=Louisville Metro Government and Louisville Regional Airport Authority |access-date=May 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044413/http://www.flylouisville.com/wp-content/uploads/Release-Mayor-Fischer-celebrates-decision-to-rename-Louisville-airport-to-honor-Muhammad-Ali-1-16-19_FINAL_FOR_WEB.pdf |archive-date=January 22, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Then-Louisville mayor Greg Fischer upon the occasion said:{{blockquote|Muhammad Ali belonged to the world, but he only had one hometown, and fortunately, that is our great city of Louisville. Muhammad became one of the most well-known people to ever walk the Earth and has left a legacy of humanitarianism and athleticism that has inspired billions of people. It [is] important that we, as a city, further champion The Champ's legacy, and the airport renaming is a wonderful next step.<ref name="Ali Airport" />}} On June 6, 2019, the airport unveiled its new logo, featuring "Ali's silhouette, arms up and victorious, against the background of a butterfly."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ladd |first1=Sarah |title=Louisville's renamed Muhammad Ali International Airport debuts logo |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/06/07/louisvilles-muhammad-ali-international-airport-unveils-logo/1378182001/ |website=usatoday.com |publisher=Louisville Courier Journal |access-date=June 7, 2019 |date=June 7, 2019 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419172909/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/06/07/louisvilles-muhammad-ali-international-airport-unveils-logo/1378182001/ |url-status=live }}</ref>