Marquette spring commencement speaker is Hank Aaron

MILWAUKEE -- Baseball great Hank Aaron will be the commencement speaker at Marquette University's spring commencement ceremony. As part of the ceremony, Aaron will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

Aaron played as an outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers from 1954-1976 and holds many of baseball's most distinguished records. In 1976, Hank Aaron hit his 755th and final home run at Milwaukee County Stadium, having broken Babe Ruth’s home run record two years before.

Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

In 1999, Major League Baseball announced the introduction of the Hank Aaron Award, which honors the best overall offensive performer in the American and National Leagues.

In addition to Aaron’s contributions to baseball, he has worked on behalf of racial equality, civil rights and helping others through his Chasing the Dream Foundation, which helps underprivileged children.

Marquette’s 131st Commencement ceremony will be held at the Bradley Center Sunday, May 20, 2012.