New Hometown Heroes banner for Kentucky Derby 150 installed in downtown Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A new banner honoring the 150th Kentucky Derby was installed in downtown Louisville on Saturday.

The banner replaces a Hometown Heroes banner honoring Diane Sawyer, which was hung on the Starks Building for 20 years. The banner honoring Sawyer had become faded over the years, so it was retired and replaced.

"When we relaunched the program in June 2022 with Hometown Heroes 2.0, we knew many of the original banners had become unsightly and needed to be retired," Mike Sheehy, president and founding member of Greater Louisville Pride Foundation, said in a news release.

Sawyer's banner was 75-feet by 60-feet. Various partners worked together to retire the banner.

Diane Sawyer banner — Hometown Heroes banner of journalist Diane Sawyer.
Sam Draut

The new banner features the Kentucky Derby trophy, roses and Churchill Downs.

"Thanks to Louisville Tourism and Churchill Downs Racetrack, GLPF is proud to unveil this special edition Hometown Heroes banner that is sure to make a big impact on the view of our downtown just in time for this international sporting event," Sheehy said.

The banner will remain in place for around a year, and then be replaced by a traditional Hometown Heroes banner.

Earlier this year, the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation, Inc. released its six-member Class of 2024 after receiving 44 nominations. This year's group of selections include Rajon Rondo, Howard Schnellenberger, John Y. Brown Jr., Stephen Ellis Garrett Jr. (known as Static Major), Dr. Allan Lansing and Mildred and Patty Hill.

Greater Louisville Pride Foundation is working with property owners to determine the status of current faded banners around the city. Greater Louisville Pride Foundation receives no public funding as banners are paid for by private donations or supporters of the honoree.

To nominate someone or to offer space on your building for a banner, click here.

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