American Football Association's 27th Annual Induction Dinner Site Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida will be the site for the American Football Association's 28th Annual Induction Dinner on Friday December 12th at the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel on Lido Beach. Eighteen individuals representing semi-pro football teams across the country will gather in Sarasota to be enshrined as 'legends' of their level. The AFA is a national 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation dedicated to the advancement and promotion of semi-pro football worldwide.
Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) December 11, 2008 -- Sarasota, Florida will be the site for the American Football Association's 28th Annual Induction Dinner on Friday December 12th at the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel on Lido Beach. Eighteen individuals representing semi-pro football teams across the country will gather in Sarasota to be enshrined as 'legends' of their level. The AFA is a national 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation dedicated to the advancement and promotion of semi-pro football worldwide.
Sarasota is the headquarters city for the AFA national association and previously hosted Hall of Fame banquets. This year's semi-pro football enshrinement festivities will commence on Thursday evening December 11th with the annual AFA/HOF Alumni Huddle cocktail party. The "Huddle" gives attending HOF Alumni an opportunity to meet the new group of semi-pro football legends before they are inducted. Over the past 28 years the AFA has inducted 571 devoted and deserving former players (313), coaches (94), executives (74), officials (23), pioneers (20), media/historians (20), trainers/equipment managers (11), youth football representatives (6), international footballers (5), women's football category (4), and even one super fan.
On Friday evening the Class of 2008 will be honored by AFA Alumni, family and friends when they join the elite group of semi-pro football over achievers as they receive their commemorative Semi-Pro Hall of Fame recognition plaques. Former teammates and/or family members will present the new inductees to the dinner crowd.
Saturday morning will find representatives from semi-pro Alumni organizations from coast to coast gathering for a business meeting breakfast at the Helmsley Sandcastle to hear ideas from special guest speakers on how they can promote additional membership in local alumni organizations.
Saturday at noon, a special memorial service will be held on the beach for AFA Founder Ron Real who passed away June 10, 2008.
The AFA will hold its 4th annual "Old Timers Game" on the beach Saturday afternoon. The touch-tackle game will pit a team of HOF Alumni legends against the newly inducted Class of 2008.
The American Football Association is proud to present the names of those who will be enshrined into the AFA Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame as the "Class of 2008". The names in parentheses indicate sponsors of the new inductees HOF alumni.
PLAYERS CATEGORY:
Richard Landis - Upper Strasburg, Pennsylvania. - (Stephen Oldt, Dave Bonsell )
Jerry Schropp - Elk Grove Village, Illinois - (Fritz Fiorelli, Alvin Klaeren, Roman Strzala)
Pat Albanese - Glenview, Illinois - (Neal Anderson, Mike "Chico" Cain, William Meyer, Gary Thomas)
Larry Schmidt- Northbrook, Illinois - (Patrick O'Brien, Joseph Wolfe)
Donald Busch, Sr - Westchester, Illinois - (Elmhurst Travelers Alumni Club)
Elwyn Rider - Jackson, Michigan - (Bill Christie)
Steven Fisher - Watertown, New York - (George Ashcraft)
Dick Rosati - Port Charlotte, Florida - (Dick Leland)
Tom Kirlis - Bridgewater, Massachusetts - (Peter O'Kane)
David Brown - Quincy, Massachusetts - (Larry DeVoe)
Erle Garrett - Boston, Massachusetts - (Bob DeVoe)
Thomas Manny - Troy, New York - (Gary Shaver)
COACHES CATEGORY:
Merle F. Derpinghaus - Manitowoc, WI - (Jordon Kopac)
EXECUTIVE CATEGORY:
Pete Narri - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - (Chris Chudada)
Arney Silvestri - Geneva, Illinois - (Cheryl Kardas)
OFFICIALS CATEGORY:
Jerry McGonigle - Lake Winola, Pennsylvania - (William Higgins)
TRAINERS CATEGORY:
Glen Cooper - Prince George, Virginia - (Hal & Mary Lockhart)
PIONEER CATEGORY:
Joseph Loughran - Staten Island, New York - (Brett Friedman)
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