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Home , Bill Polian, Charles Haley, Joe DeLamielleure, Junior Seau, Mick Tingelhoff, Ralph Wilson

Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 04/27/15

U.S. ARMY AND PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME TO RECOGNIZE NORTH CAROLINA STUDENT-ATHLETES JOE DELAMIELLEURE TO PRESENT AWARDS TO TWO OF NATION’S ELITE STUDENT-ATHLETES

CANTON, OHIO – The U.S. Army and the Pro Football Hall of Fame will visit East Bladen High School in Elizabethtown, N.C. on Wednesday, April 29 to recognize Abby Norris as a U.S. Army–Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalist. Pro Football Hall of Fame guard and and legend Joe DeLamielleure will be on hand at East Bladen High School to honor Norris before her fellow classmates and family during a formal ceremony. The following day, DeLamielleure will be at Broughton High School in Raleigh to recognize Award for Excellence finalist Austin Bell.

The Award for Excellence program highlights the achievements of student-athletes across the country. Open to all sophomore, junior and senior-level high school athletes in the United States, finalists were determined based on athletic, academic and civic achievements. Norris and Bell join an elite group of 20 finalists who have demonstrated excellence in all they do and that they understand the importance of adaptability and versatility when working as a team.

About Joe DeLamielleure:

The Buffalo Bills selected guard Joe DeLamielleure out of Michigan State in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He wasted no time adjusting to the pro level. He earned all-rookie honors as an anchor of the Bills’ famous “Electric Company” offensive line that paved the way for O.J. Simpson to become NFL’s first 2,000-yard rusher. Noted for his durability, “Joe D” played in 185 consecutive games in his career with Buffalo (1973-1979, 1985) and the Cleveland Browns (1980-84). DeLamielleure was named All-Pro six straight seasons, voted to six Bowls and selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. The Charlotte, N.C. resident is known for his goodwill and using his fame to help numerous causes. In the summer of 2013, he walked from midfield at Stadium in Buffalo to the front doors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio to raise awareness and support for Grace’s Lamp organization in Charlotte that deals with young children who grow out of their prosthetic legs but cannot afford the high cost of adult prosthetic legs.

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

Award for Excellence April 29 Event Details:

What: Abby Norris to receive finalist recognition and invitation to attend the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend

Where: East Bladen High School 5600 Highway 87 E Elizabethtown, NC 28337

When: Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Event Start Time: 9:45 AM

Media Set-Up Time: 30 minutes prior to event

Photo/Interview Op: Abby Norris Joe DeLamielleure Nominating teacher Local soldiers presenting Norris with plaque

Websites: GoArmy.com/AAB ProFootballHOF.com/Army

Social Media Handles: Twitter @GoArmy @ProFootballHOF

Facebook facebook.com/goarmy facebook.com/ProFootballHOF

Instagram instagram.com/goarmy/ instagram.com/profootballhof/ @abbynorris7

Relevant Hashtags: #Award4Excellence, #ArmyTeam, #PFHOF15

For More Information: Pete Fierle, Vice President of Communications Pro Football Hall of Fame [email protected]; 330-588-3622

Laura Jollie, Assistant Account Executive Weber Shandwick [email protected]; 952-346- 6036

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

Award for Excellence Event April 30 Details:

What: Austin Bell to receive finalist recognition and invitation to attend the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend

Where: Broughton High School 723 St. Mary's St. Raleigh, NC 27605

When: Thursday, April 30, 2015

Event Start Time: 2:30 PM

Media Set-Up Time: 30 minutes prior to event

Photo/Interview Op: Austin Bell Joe DeLamielleure Nominating teacher Local soldiers presenting Bell with plaque

Websites: GoArmy.com/AAB ProFootballHOF.com/Army

Social Media Handles: Twitter @GoArmy @ProFootballHOF @austinbell44

Facebook facebook.com/goarmy facebook.com/ProFootballHOF

Instagram instagram.com/goarmy/ instagram.com/profootballhof/ @austin_bell

Relevant Hashtags: #Award4Excellence, #ArmyTeam, #PFHOF15

For More Information: Pete Fierle, Vice President of Communications Pro Football Hall of Fame [email protected]; 330-588-3622

Jane Scrivner, Account Supervisor Weber Shandwick [email protected]; 952-346-6336

Each U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalist will be honored in Canton during the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend this summer. The finalists will be hosted at a special luncheon on Saturday, Aug. 8. The 2015 Award for Excellence winner will be announced at the event. All 20 finalists will attend the 2015

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

Enshrinement Ceremony of the Class of 2015 – , Tim Brown, , , , , , and – which is nationally televised on ESPN and the NFL Network. The finalists and winner will receive special recognition during the telecast. The weekend celebration will be capped off when the Award for Excellence finalists and their guests attend the NFL’s preseason opener between the and in Canton on Sunday, Aug. 9.

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COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE