The National Football Foundation CHAPTER NETWORK Vol. 2, Issue 1 February 1, 2006 Building Leaders Through Football CHAPTER PLAY-BY-PLAY Riverside Chapter President Receives Prestigious Award

“Knowing Eddie The Press-Enterprise newspaper named Bob Burt, since his freshman year at the Riverside (Calif.) Chapter President, its Sports Person of Ohio State, it’s been nothing the Year for 2005. An athletic director for two high schools, but awesome watching him Burt helped launch the Riverside Chapter three years ago, grow and develop into a and his efforts as the leader of the chapter contributed to wonderful human being,” his selection. said Larry Romanoff, president of the Columbus Chapter. “He is one of the great representatives of the 1995 Heisman Trophy impact of the college winner Eddie George football experience. We are excited to honor him and Heisman Trophy especially to add him to a winner Eddie George from prestigious list of Ohio Gold Ohio State will be honored as Award honorees.” the 2005 recipient of the Ohio Gold Award at a Feb. 8 The Mississippi State banquet sponsored by the (Starkville) Chapter paid Columbus Chapter. Recent tribute to the Miss-Lou recipients of the award Chapter by honoring Miss- include Chris Spielman, Jim Lou Chapter President Joe Bob Burt with 2005 National High School Tressel and Andy Geiger. Fortunato with the Starkville Scholar-Athlete David M. Miller The event, the chapter’s 45th Distinguished American annual scholar-athlete awards Award, which was presented “His devotion to all students and his busy year that banquet, will also feature the during halftime of the MSU touched many lives lifted him above a field of outstanding awarding of the John vs. Ole Miss game. Fortunato candidates,” the paper wrote in a 950-word feature story, which H. McConnell Scholarships. (Continued on page 2) touted his many contributions to the region. Helping a community in transition, Burt felt an obligation to take on the role of athletics director at the newly- launched Lakeside High School when many of the students and coaches transferred from Temescal Canyon High School. The circumstances created the unusual situation of him being an athletics director in two locations. Burt’s work led to the selection of David M. Miller, one of the Riverside Chapter’s scholar-athletes, as one of the four National High School Scholar-Athletes. "I just really believe in the scholar-athlete program," Burt told the paper. "For me it's a labor of love." Hall of Famers Honored at Fiesta Bowl In the article, Sharon Miller praised Burt and his Cornelius Bennett, Mark May, John Huarte and efforts to honor her son, noting that Burt helped arrange Roosevelt Leaks, members of the 2005 College Football Hall sponsors to subsidize her trip to New York City for the event. of Fame Class, participate in a media Q&A during a pre-game Burt, a native of San Pedro, Calif. and a graduate of event prior to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. 2005 marked the Cal State Los Angeles, began coaching at the high school beginning of a new tradition where each year the Bowl will level and later served as an assistant at UCLA, Hawaii and Cal showcase the most recent College Football Hall of Fame class. State Fullerton and head coach at the discontinued Cal State The Valley of the Sun Chapter played a key role in hosting Northridge program. Among his many community activities, the Hall of Famers during their visit to the Grand Canyon State. Burt trains counselors and police officers in suicide prevention.

www.footballfoundation.org (Continued from page 1) including an NFL/NFF played two seasons with Coaching Academy, Play It Mississippi State and was an Smart, a golf tournament and All-America selection in its annual banquet. 1951. He also recently traveled to Atlanta to be The Mid-Michigan Chapter, in conjunction with the Detroit Free Press, hosted an All-State Dream Team Football Awards Banquet on Dec. 15. Chapter member and Central Michigan University Ath- Knoxville Chapter Funds “Special Spectators” Visit letics Director Herb The Knoxville Chapter sponsored a “Special Deromedi received the Spectators” visit during the Nov. 19 UT-Vanderbilt game, bringing kids from East Tennessee Children's Hospital and UT Medical Center to Neyland Stadium for all of the day’s activities and traditions. Special Spectators, a national non- profit organization, creates a fun-filled day for seriously ill Joe Fortunato children surrounded by a college-sporting event. honored as one of the 12 Under the leadership of Chapter President Dick members of the 2005 Williams , the chapter boasts a busy agenda, including an NFL/ class of “Legends of SEC NFF Coaching Academy, Play It Smart, its award luncheon, a Football” during the South- golf tournament and its scholar-athlete banquet. eastern Conference Championship weekend. Don’t forget to send photos, announcements and event 2005 Hall of Famer descriptions to [email protected]. Cornelius Bennett, Alabama 1983-86, was also honored as year memberships, to its rolls each of the state's 33 varsity Herb Deromedi a member of the class. since Nov. 1, bringing their football programs. Proceeds total to 540 members. The from the game support Joseph H. Carey The Greater bump came from a direct the chapter’s scholarship Distinguished American Cincinnati Chapter has mail and phone bank effort program. Under the leader- Award and former Chippewa teamed with the Anthony targeted at attendees of the ship of Chapter President player Kevin Egnatuk took Muñoz Foundation, which chapter’s most recent Mickey Heinecken, the All- home the Hal Schram will present its 2006 banquet, past adult award Star game rounds out an Award. Deromedi retired on Offensive Lineman and winners, former members, active agenda for the chapter, Jan. 15. Defensive Lineman of the former scholar-athletes, Year Awards presented by parents of scholar-athletes, Old Spice at the chapter’s members of related Feb. 16 scholar-athlete Wyoming community banquet. The awards organizations, and 27 current recognize the top high players from the University school linemen in the of Wyoming football team. Tri-State region of Ohio, Please email Chapter Kentucky and Indiana. President Mike Schutte at [email protected] or call him at 970-484-2797 for Commonwealth ChapterCo Honors Local Official sample letters and forms used mmonwealth Chapter Praises Area Official in this most recent campaign. During the 5th Annual East Coast Bowl, the Commonwealth Chapter paid a special salute to Russell L. The Vermont Bland, who has been a fixture for the past fifty years as an Chapter held its fifth annual official in the Petersburgh, Va. area. The chapter honored him Vermont High School Senior for both his longevity and his standards of fairness and Bowl with 91 players making leadership in the field of officiating. Bland officiated many Anthony Muñoz up the North-South All-Star historic games during his tenure, including the T.C. Williams squads. The November game and William Fleming High School game immortalized in the The Wyoming took place at Middlebury movie Remember the Titans. “I was deeply honored,” Bland Chapter added 70 new College's Alumni Stadium told the Richmond Free Press. “It’s good to get your roses members, including 58 three- with representatives from while you’re living.”

The National Football Foundation 2 February 1, 2006