UPCOMING EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Notes from Art Demmas
One of this year's 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 and Ned Ray McWherter.
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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Annual banquet -
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The annual honors banquet for the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National
Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame was held on Tuesday, March
4, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel.
The Banquet gives the Hall of Fame Foundation, along with all of Middle Tennessee, an opportunity to honor 55
high school and (7) college scholar/athletes who have distinguished themselves not only as football players but also in academic and leadership achievements. We will be awarding $500 scholarships to all our high school scholar/athletes and recognizing outstanding community leaders and great Americans by awarding the Fred Russell Distinguished American Award and the Roy Kramer Contribution to Football Award.
Join us on the 4th and help us honor these outstanding young men for their leadership and all their accomplishments. The cost of a table is $500 and it will seat 10 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.
42nd Annual Awards Dinner Program-2008
*note you will need Adobe "Free" Reader to open the Dinner Program
2008 BANQUET PHOTOS
*click on photos to enlarge
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Brenda and Tommy Squires |
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former Tennessean Prep writer Tommy Squires with wife Brenda enjoying the 2008 Banquet |
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Former Distinguished American Award winner Coach Ed Temple |
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with Directors Parker, Thomas, and Taft |
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"ZEBRAS" |
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at the banquet for award winner Steve Swift.......a great group! |
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PAT and DIRECTOR DAVE MALONE |
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COACHES KRAMER and BROWN |
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Coach Watson Brown - Tennessee Tech visiting with Mr & Mrs. Roy Kramer |
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"FIREBIRDS" from Pearl-Cohn |
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"Hit a B-B with a clothline" |
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Coach Boots Donnelly explaining to the crowd how well Honoree Gerald Johnson told him he could hit a baseball...................that is some eyesight! |
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THE GOVERNOR and THE PRESIDENT |
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NFF President Bob Sullins assuring "Distinguished American" Honoree Governor Phil Bresesen that public speaking is not that tough! |
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A GREAT TIME |
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Sandra Pigue, Dona Elrod, Nancy Sullins, Director Steve Gregory, and Coach Jackie Bledsoe |
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"SPARTANS" from Stratford |
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HONOREE GERALD JOHNSON |
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Table for the family and friends of "Kramer Award" Honoree Gerald Johson |
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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 and
now the Millenium Maxwell House.
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 (53) area High School and
(7)
area collegiate Scholar-Athletes and award
over $20,000 in scholarships
Art
Demmas
