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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Next banquet - Monday - March
7, 2011
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 7, 2011, 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
2010 BANQUET PHOTOS
(photos by Mike Strasinger)
*double-click on photos to enlarge
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"THE GAME PLAN" |
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Brown and Bulluck lay out the game plan |
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"INVOCATION" |
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by Lee Brown of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes |
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THE STATE OF THE CHAPTER |
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President Bob Sullins get the banquet rolling! |
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TROUSDALE CO........2009 AA STATE CHAMPS |
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Director Jerry Pigue presents Coaches plaque to HC Kevin Creasy of the "two-peat" TC Jackets State Champions |
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BEECH BUCS........2009 5A STATE CHAMPS |
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Director Jerry Pigue presents Coaches plaque to HC Anthony Crabtree of the Beech Buccaneers |
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2010 NEWS ORLEANS BOWL CHAMPS |
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MTSU Head Coach Rick Stockstill is presented the "Coaches Plaque" for great season and victory over Southern Miss in the New Orleans Bowl. |
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The Steve McNair "Iron Men" |
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(9) HS athletes selected for scholarships by Titan LBer Keith Bulluck in honor of # 9..........QB Steve McNair |
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BANQUET #1 |
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Captain Wilmore and his crew of former "MJ Bears" |
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BULLUCK & BIRDS |
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Titan LBer Keith Bulluck with FireBirds at the Pearl-Cohn table |
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BANQUET # 3 |
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The StationCamp/Pope John table from Sumner Co. table |
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"THE QUOTE OF THE NIGHT" |
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Demmas Award Honoree Tom Ritter uttered the awful truth (LOL) when he said "Coaches, without us; its just recess!!" |
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THE TOP DAWG! |
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Director Wallene Leek introducing the "Special Barrom Motivation Award" honoree Cody Noyes from Smyrna HS |
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COACH WATSON BROWN |
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"Roy Kramer Contribution to Football" honoree Tennessee Tech HC Watson Brown |
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JUDGE FRANK DROWOTA |
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"Fred Russell Distinguished American" honoree Judge Frank Drowota......... |
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LETS GEAR UP ONE MORE TIME!! |
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"Fred Russell Distinguished American" honoree Captain Barry Wilmore.........says he can still "bring the big hit".....but Mrs Wilmore just shook her head and said "Probably NOT!!" |
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DR RHEA SEDDON, MD |
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Former astronaut Dr Rhea Seddon was an honored guest at this years NFF Banquet |
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DR DREW GAFFNEY, MD |
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Former astronaut Dr Drew Gaffney was an honored guest at this years NFF Banquet |
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DR RICK CHAPPELL, PhD |
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Former astronaut Dr Rick Chappell was an honored guest at this years NFF Banquet |
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ADMIRAL WILLIAM LAWERENCE |
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Director David Malone explains the legacy of the Naval Hero and former Nashville HS scholar-athlete........ |
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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
