UPCOMING EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Notes from Art Demmas
Past-Presidential candidates,
former Senator Fred Thompson and former
Senator William H. "Bill" Frist were
co-recipients of the chapter's 1995 Fred
Russell Distinguished American Award.
Other chapter notable recipients of this award are former Tennessee Governors Winfield Dunn, Ned Ray McWherter,
and Phil Bredesen.
Admiral William P. Lawerence received this award in 1978, and then the chapter honored him by naming the scholar-athlete award The Adrmiral William P. Lawerence Award.
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More on Art!! ............click
here
Annual banquet - Monday - March
8, 2010
The annual honors banquet for the Middle
Tennessee Chapter of the National Football
Foundation and College Hall of Fame was held
held on Monday, March 8, 2010, at
7:00 p.m. at the Nashville Airport Marriott.
The banquet gives the Hall of Fame
Foundation, along with all of Middle
Tennessee, an opportunity to honor 56 high
school and 7 college scholar/athletes who
have distinguished themselves not only as
football players but also in their academic
and leadership achievements. We
awarded scholarships to all our high school
scholar/athletes and recognized outstanding
community leaders and great Americans by
awarding the Fred Russell Distinguished
American Award and the Roy Kramer
Contribution to Football Award.
Join us next year and help us honor these outstanding young
men and community leaders for all their accomplishments. The cost of a table is
$500 and it will seat ten guests (four for your use and six for the
scholar/athlete, his parents, principal and coaches). Your contribution is, of
course, tax deductible. Your participation as a table sponsor makes it possible
for us to continue the tradition of honoring our athletes.
Support one of our scholar/athletes! Purchase a table, by mailing your contribution to Scott Brunette, 2601 Bransford Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37204. Checks should be made out to the
National Football Foundation/College Hall of Fame.
44th Awards Dinner Program-2010
(click here)
*note you will need Adobe "Free" Reader to open the Dinner Program
2009 BANQUET PHOTOS
(photos by Mike Strasinger)
*double-click on photos to enlarge
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"THE GAME PLAN" |
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Director Bob Hyde directs how the photo-shoot will take place |
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THE UNIVERSITY SCHOLAR-ATHLETES |
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HUNTERS LANE HONOR GUARD
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Presents the colors.......... |
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"STATE of the CHAPTER" |
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Opening remarks by Chapter President Bob Sullins |
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MR & MRS JUNIOR WARD and FAMILY |
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COACH BUBBA SPEARS (East Lit) and his MOTHER |
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STATE 5A CHAMPIONS
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President Bob Sullins presents Coach Thomas McDaniel (HC) of the 2008 5A State Champion Oakland Patriots, the NFF Championship plaque |
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STATE 4A CHAMPIONS |
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President Bob Sullins presents Coach Alvin Fite (accepting for Scott Blade) of the 2008 4A State Champion Hillsboro Burros, the NFF Championship plaque |
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STATE DIV. 1 - 1A CHAMPIONS |
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President Bob Sullins presents Coach Kevin Creasy (HC) of the 2008 Div 1-1A State Champion Trousdale Co. Jackets, the NFF Championship plaque |
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STATE DIV. 2 - 1A CHAMPIONS |
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President Bob Sullins presents Coach Paul Wade (HC) of the 2008 Div 2-1A State Champion Davison Academy Bears, the NFF Championship plaque |
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"WARNING.... PLAY US AT YOUR OWN RISK" |
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Director Wes Elrod reminds banquet attendees that our NFF (6) county Chapter accounted for 4 of the 7 TSSAA State Champions..........this year! |
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"TELLING IT LIKE IT IS" |
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Titan LBer David Thornton stresses to the HS scholar-athletes that education is the keystone for future success. |
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THE BONNIE SLOAN COURAGE AWARD |
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Directors Ray Thomas and Wayne Parker introduce Bonnie Sloan as the inaugural winner the "new" Courage Award |
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STANDING OVATION |
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for Bonnie!! |
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BONNIE'S BUNCH |
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family and friends of honoree Bonnie Sloan |
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WALLENE |
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Director Wallene Leek introduces the "Jim Barrom Spirit Award" winner |
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COACH RALPH BROWN |
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Director George Plaster presents plaque to "Contribution to Football" inductee Ralph Brown |
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COACH BILL BRIMM |
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Director Mark North presents plaque to "Contribution to Football" inductee Bill Brimm |
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OLD RAMS |
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former players and friends of Coach Bill Brimm |
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"Mayonaise" and "Persistent" |
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Director Boots Donnelly describes honoree Father John Strobel's complexion and his baseball ability..........they must be friends! |
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SGT KEVIN DOWNS |
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Our "Distinguished American" Sgt Kevin Downs addresses the crowd |
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Historical recollections by our First Chapter President - Art Demmas
Forty
years ago, Fred Russell hosted a
luncheon at the the Cumberland Club
which was then in the L&C Tower for the
purpose of organizing NFF&CHoF chapters
in Tennessee. Among those in attendance
were George Volkert, Sewanee’s Bishop
Julian, Alf Sharp, Vernon Sharp, Al
Beaman, Harry Welford from Memphis,
a gentleman from Knoxville, Cotton Clark
and a
couple of others that I simply cannot recall
their names.
As a
result, I was selected as the
president of the new Middle-Tennessee
Chapter. Other Chapters were also formed in Memphis
and Knoxville.
The
first Scholar-Athlete was Cohn High
School’s Butch Stinson. Since I was (
still am ) a member of the Downtown
Nashville Exchange Club, I made this
initial
award at one of the Club’s Tuesday
luncheons at the Hermitage Hotel.
We grew
rapidly, honoring Scholar-Athlete
Barrett Sutton ( MBA ) & the first
Distinguished American Award recipients
the following year ( Alfred Adams and Dr.
Tom Zerfoss).
Our
spring dinners over the years have been
in several different locations:
Vanderbilt University Club, Airport
Marriott, Airport Hilton, Vanderbilt’s
Stadium Club, Hillwood Country Club,
Loew’s Hotel across from Vanderbilt, the
Maxwell House and
now back to the Airport Marriott.
The
Chapter’s presidential line went from
myself to Roy Kramer, to Dick Philpot,
to Charlie Hawkins, and now Bob Sullins
As you
know, the chapter’s growth has been very
impressive, considering that this year
we will honor (56) area High School and
(7)
area collegiate Scholar-Athletes and award
over $20,000 in scholarships
Art
Demmas
