OAKLAND, Calif. -- For the first time in the 10 years its held a honoree induction ceremony, the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame honored white sports stars.

On Friday night, seven people were inducted into the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame at the Mormon Temple in the Oakland hills and three of the honorees tonight are white.

The founder of this event says it is time.

"The world now has become multi-racial, multi cultural and multi-ethnic and now we will induct athletes, no matter what their race," said Arif Khathib, founder of the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame.

John Brodie, 74 year old and white, was the event's featured honoree.

He grew up in Oakland and starred in three sports at Oakland Tech High School then went on to become an All American quarterback at Stanford.

For 17 seasons he was the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.. He was named all-pro twice the NFL's most valuable player in 1970 and took the Niners to three straight playoff appearances.

While in retirement in 2000, Brodie suffered a major stroke that makes it difficult for him to speak.

His daughter Cammie said it is frustrating for her father because he has so much he wants to say.

"He has gone to Russia three times to have stem cell treatments because it is illegal in this country what he's doing and it has helped him with his speech with his clarity of thought," said Cammie Brodie.

The other honorees included NFL All Pro and Stanford All American Chris Burford; track and field coach B. Pat Connelly; Menlo-Atherton High School football coach Ben Parks; and Oakland Raider defensive back and later coach, and Professional Football Hall of Fame honoree Willie Brown.

Bay Area golfer Lucius Bateman and San Jose State track coach Bud Winter were honored posthumously.

KTVU asked Brodie if he had anything to say to 49er fans.

"Standing," said Brodie. "You're still standing."

The new rules that opened up this honor to white athletes require that former Black Hall of Famers will name the nominees.