Rick Welts

Echo Hall of Fame 2011 Rick Welts

The world of men's professional sports and the LGBT community rarely become fixated about the same piece of news, but that's what happened when Rick Welts announced that he's gay. As chief executive officer and president of the Phoenix Suns, Welts made history as the highest-ranking executive in professional sports to come out when he told his story to the New York Times in May. What followed was a media sensation as Welts' coming out story hit the mainstream in a blitz of interviews for print, broadcast and the Internet. It helped start the conversation about what had been a taboo topic.

BACKGROUND:: Welts, 58, grew up in Seattle and started his 40-year career in sports as a ball boy for the SuperSonics. He became a trainer and then public relations executive for the team. He worked in the NBA league office as executive vice president, chief marketing officer and president of NBA Properties. In 2002, he joined the Suns and in 2009 was promoted to president and chief executive officer, overseeing business operations and management of U.S. Airways Center and the Phoenix Mercury.

ACHIEVEMENTS:: Welts is credited with the creation of the NBA All-Star Weekend and helped start the Women's Basketball Association. The behind-the-scenes executive made his biggest impact by coming out in an industry that often appears homophobic. In July, he spoke to a gathering of the local LGBT community. He recently received a United States Tennis Association Icon Award and is to be honored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

FUTURE:: In September, Welts left his job with the Suns to move to northern California to be closer to his partner, a flight attendant he met 18 months ago who has joint custody of two children in Sacramento. Although Welts had said he would be doing speaking engagements and writing a book, he quickly landed a new job as president and chief operating officer of the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif.