Now that the new downtown sidewalk project is near completion, city workers have installed bronze plaques along 2nd street highlighting the first inductees to the Owensboro Walk of Fame. A small committee appointed by Mayor Payne picks the nominees based on celebrities from all walks of life that were either born in or grew up in Owensboro. Walk of Fame plaques are not exclusively for those in the Hall of Fame at the Visitors Bureau, but most are.
Each year there will be a new class of inductees, so new plaques will be installed as each class is named. The plaques so far include Rex Chapman (NBA Basketball), Brad Wilkerson (MLB Baseball), Michael Waltrip (NASCAR), The Hayden Brothers (Motorcycle Racing Champions) , Darrell Waltrip (NASCAR), Wendell Ford (Politician), Cliff Hagan (NBA Basketball), and Bobby Watson (NBA Basketball).