Hawks center to receive Iba Award

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The Atlanta Hawks center with the big name and big plays will be honored in Tulsa in June for his big heart. <br><br>Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo is the

Wednesday, April 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The Atlanta Hawks center with the big name and big plays will be honored in Tulsa in June for his big heart.

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo is the 2000 recipient of the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award.

The award, which will be presented June 19, recognizes a male and female athlete who have excelled in their sport and have shown by their actions a desire to help others. The award is named after the former Oklahoma State and U.S. Olympic basketball coach.

Mutombo, a 7-foot-2 center, is a three-time NBA defensive player of the year and leads the league in rebounding.

He also gave more than $2 million to jump-start a $15 million fundraising drive to build a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, his native country. He also created the Dikembe Motumbu Foundation, which is dedicated to improving health, education and quality of life in Congo.

"In Central Africa, there is an old proverb," he said. "When you take the elevator up to reach the top, please don't forget to send the elevator back down so that someone else can take it to the top. This is my way of sending the elevator down."

Mutombo will receive $10,000 from the Rotary Club of Tulsa to donate to a charity of his choice.