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AFA Names Semi-Pro Football Hall Of Fame Class Of 2004"
The American Football Association announced today the names of those who have been selected for enshrinement into the Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame as the Class of 2004". Of the 30 new inductees 20 are former players. The other 10 are: 3 executives, 2 coaches, 2 pioneers, 1 official, 1 trainer, and 1 media
person.
(PRWEB) September 19, 2004 -- The American Football Association announced today the names of those who have been selected for enshrinement into the Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame as the Class of 2004". Of the 30 new inductees 20 are former players. The other 10 are: 3 executives, 2 coaches, 2 pioneers, 1 official, 1 trainer, and 1 media person.
The Class of 2004 will be enshrined during the AFAs 24th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on Friday, December 10th in Sarasota, Florida. The induction dinner will be part of a 3 day Hall of Fame 'events weekend designed to honor this years Semi-Pro Football Legends.
Over the past 24 years (including the 'class of 2004) the AFA has inducted 245 players, 83 coaches, 59 executives, 19 pioneers, 17 officials, 17 media/historians, 5 international, 4 youth football people, 3 from womans football and 1 super fan - for a total of 461. For several years now the AFA has been averaging about 30 inductees a year. While inducting that many former footballers every year is a bit out of line with what is done by our professional football counterparts in the NFL, we must remind everyone that the NFL has far fewer teams (32) - likewise eligible players, coaches, executives, etc. than the AFA has to consider after their retirement.
Currently the AFA National Association monitors more than 700 teams playing in 62 different semi-pro leagues across the country. Adding up all the players, coaches, executives, officials, trainers, etc., that the AFA Hall of Fame has categories for and you can see that the semi-pro level of Americas greatest sport has somewhere in the neighborhood of 75,000 people actively involved with the game on an annual basis these days.
Realize, if you will, the number of people that retire from semi-pro football each year - then multiply it by the number of years the game has been played on our level (one of our AFA teams is in its 108th year of operation) and you have a significant number of eligible nominees each year for semi-pro footballs highest honor - enshrinement into the AFAs Hall of Fame.
A recent survey conducted by several semi-pro football historians indicate there are approximately 500,000 former semi-pro football players in the United States who are still walking, talking and capable of chewing gum who at one time or another has been associated with a semi-pro football team or league. So recognizing 30 or so a year for Hall of Fame induction is not entirely out of line.
It is our pleasure to bring you the names of those former semi-pro football greats who will be inducted into the AFA Hall of Fame on Friday, December 10, 2004 in Sarasota, Florida. More details about the AFAs 24th annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will be available in future press releases:
INDUCTEE: CATEGORY:
HOMETOWN: (ALUMNI SPONSOR)
Mark Azzara - Media
Danbury, Connecticut (Dick Leland)
David Bonsell - Player
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania (Steve Oldt)
Jack Brumbaugh - Player
Dormont, Pennsylvania (Jim Chapas)
Anthony 'Red Celender - Player
Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania (Tom Averell)
John Companey - Player
Macedonia, Ohio (Richard Brindisi)
Peter Dale - Player
Harahan, Louisiana (Laurance Haynes)
Jane Dole - Executive
Old Chatham, New York (Gary Shaver)
Alex Duffy* - Pioneer
Watertown, New York (Mike Britton)
Brian Erickson - Player
Jefferson, Wisconsin (Philip Miceck)
Frank Fanning* - Player
Plymouth, Massachusetts (Larry DeVoe)
Wes Fisher - Executive
Snohomish, Washington (John Phillips)
Brian Forston - Player
Franklin, Wisconsin (Arnie Garber)
Joe Hammond - Player
Bradenton, Florida (Willis Whalen)
Joe Hoffman - Player
Orlando, Florida (Bob Baker)
Tony Iliano - Player
University Hts., Ohio - Paul Takach
Brendon Kelly - Player
Milton, Massachusetts (Fred Rihbany)
John Mamajek* - Player
Cranberry Twp, Pennsylvania (Tim Bently)
Ural 'Mack McLaughlin - Player
Joliet, Illinois (Leonard Rittof)
Al 'Big Mitch Mitchell - Player
Pittsburgh, Penn. (Fred Zangaro)
Mike Novickas - Player
Oak Forest, Illinois (Howard Huntington)
Pat OBrien - Player
Barrington, Illinois (Anderson/Fahey/Wolfe)
McCartha Pleasants - Player
Bowling Green, Virginia (Hal Lockhart)
Jenny Akeson-Primeau - Executive
Cleveland, Ohio (Maggie Burrows)
Michael Rice - Player
Chicago, Illinois (Bliss/Herman)
Eliseo 'Sal Saldivar - Coach
Algonquin, Illinois (Craig Ochoa)
Rex Stevenson - Coach
Beaumont, Texas (Ron Real)
David Summy - Player
Indianola, Iowa (Doug Fisher)
David Van Eenenaam - Trainer
Watertown, New York (George Ashcraft)
Bob Van Ness* - Pioneer
Hudson, New York (Dave Burch)
Ron Wotherspoon - Official
Lake George, New York (William Higgins)
| | - To be inducted posthumously
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The AFA Media Guide order form can also be downloaded by clicking
http://www.eteamz.com/americanfootballassn/files/MediaGuideOrderForm2.pdf
AFA NAMES SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2004"
Media - contact Dave Burch at AFA National Office
(877) 624-4485 or (941) 388-3510
(e-mail) amerfoot@aol.com (or) usafoot@aol.com
(website) http://www.americanfootballassn.com/
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