SPALDING PRESIDENT/CEO NAMED 2005 INDUCTION HONORARY CHAIRMAN
20thInduction Festivities Set for Volleyball Hall of Fame

Springfield, MA, June 13, 2005
Scott Creelman, Spalding president and CEO, has been named the Honorary Chairman of the Volleyball Hall of Fame's 2005 Induction. The Induction Celebration Week, scheduled October 21-28, will be highlighted by the Induction at the Hall of Fame at Heritage State Park in Holyoke and the Celebration Dinner, Thursday October 27.

"Spalding, and volleyball have a long and mutually gratifying history so it's a natural fit to have Scott Creelman lead our efforts for our 20th Induction and the weeklong celebration of events," stated Gerald Fitzsimons, president of the Volleyball Hall of Fame. "Scott's a great ambassador for volleyball and for sports, in general."

Spalding, founded by A.G. Spalding in 1876, produced the first volleyball for William Morgan, the sport's founder, in 1895. As role of Honorary Chairman, Creelman will make public appearances and provide leadership support to this year's induction.

"Spalding and the Volleyball Hall of Fame share history, community and an emphasized value to the sport of volleyball," stated Creelman. "We both recognize the importance of maintaining a strong presence in the national and international worlds of volleyball."

ABOUT SPALDING

Spalding is a leading producer and marketer of basketballs, backboards, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls under the Spalding and Huffy Sports brand names and softballs under the Dudley brand. Spalding is the official basketball supplier of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA, the official volleyball of the King of the Beach Volleyball Tour, the official soccer ball of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and the official football of the Arena Football League (AFL) and Pop Warner.

Acquired by Russell Corporation in May 2003, Spalding consists of three business units, Spalding Headquarters in Springfield, MA; American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) in Jefferson, IA; and Huffy Sports, in Sussex, WI. The three brands, collectively combined, are now part of the largest basketball equipment provider in the country. AAI is the leading seller of gymnastics equipment in the country as well as institutional basketball backboards; and Huffy Sports, is a leader in basketball backboard systems. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.

ABOUT THE HALL OF FAME

The Volleyball Hall of Fame, incorporated in 1978, is a nonprofit organization located at 444 Dwight Street in Holyoke, Massachusetts in the Heritage State Park Complex. The Volleyball Hall of Fame is dedicated to promoting the growth and development of the sport of volleyball, preserving its history, and honoring its great men and women. The Volleyball Hall of Fame is a member of the Lark in the Park collaborative. Other members include: The Heritage State Park Visitors Center, the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round and the Children¹s Museum of Holyoke. Information about the Hall of Fame, its programs and events, is available at www.volleyhall.org.