Vol. 30, No. 7 2008 PFRA-ternizing 2 PFRA By-Laws 3 Jim Gibbons 6 A Shot Is Not a Wing 12 Artful Eddie and Blue-Shirt Charlie 14 Jack Gregory 17 TD Punt Returns 1980s 19 Only a Year Ago 21 Joe Lillard 22 Classifieds 24 THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 30, No. 7 (2008) 2 PFRA-ternizing Gridiron Gladiators: PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE !!!! Italian-Americans in College, I just got a long letter from an old friend. Semipro & Pro Football Although he is (I assume) alive and well, I really didn’t learn much more. He chose to By Fausto Batella type his letter in a font that must be called “Itty-bitty elite.” Not only that, it appears his Our price: $18.95 typewriter tape should have been changed Format: three novels and a history-of-the-hundred- Paperback year-war ago. You couldn’t call it “gray” Size: 6 x 9 Pages: 236 anymore; it was “dark-white.” ISBN: 0-595-47827-1 I think he had something to say about Published: Nov-2007 football, but by the time I got to his third line, I thought my eyes were going to drop off. Other Formats: Adobe eBook International orders: Please, folks, when you write to me, Call 00-1-402-323-7800 remember I don’t have Natty Bumpo’s eyesight. I’m more the Magoo type. Use at In this book are gathered their stories and least an 11 type (12 is better) and have some remembered their deeds, as a tribute to life left in your ribbon. four generations of men who left a mark. I love getting your letters with great ideas and From 1920 to 1949, 473 Italian-Americans suggestions, but I’ve got to be able to read athletes played on college, semipro and pro ‘em. football teams, men who get results: * * * * * * * 4 PRO HALL OF FAME Members 20 NFL Title Winners 12 NFL All-Pros 7 AAFC Title Winners 41 Minor Leagues Title Winners 12 COLLEGE HALL OF FAME Members 39 All-Americans 26 College All-Stars 61 Various Colleges’ Hall of Fame Members 20 All-Conferences 5 College Bowls All-Stars 1 College Top National Scorer of the Year 10 of them were born in Italy and emigrated to America. LET ME MAKE A STRONG SUGGESTION THAT YOU RENEW YOUR PFRA MEMBERSHIP RIGHT NOW SO YOU DON’T MISS A SINGLE COFFIN CORNER. THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 30, No. 7 (2008) 3 PFRA Corporate Bylaws Revisions By Ken Crippen The last change to the PFRA corporate bylaws 2) One may become a member of the Association by occurred in 2003. Since then, the organization has the payment of dues and the submission of a made several changes. The bylaws need to reflect completed application form. those changes, which is why we are asking you to vote on the revisions. These revisions are to put the bylaws 3) Members shall be accorded all privileges to which more in line with the way the organization currently membership shall normally entitle them. operates. The major items of note include refined responsibilities for officers and the addition of new 4) Any member who fails to abide by the objectives or officers to replace the at-large directors. any other provision of the By-Laws or Code of Behavior of the Association shall be subject to I would like to thank John Hogrogian, Andy Piascik and disciplinary action by the Association, up to and Mark Ford for serving with me on the Bylaws including expulsion from the Association. Disciplinary Committee, tasked with making these changes. action may be imposed by majority vote of the Board of Directors. Additions to the bylaws are in bold-italics. Items removed are in bold-italics with strikethrough font. At the end of the bylaws, you will see a form for voting on ARTICLE IV – FINANCES these changes. Voting ends May 1, 2009. Please 1) Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors. submit your votes through email, USPS or by phone to: 2) All moneys received by the Association shall go Ken Crippen directly into the Association’s treasury and shall be 740 Deerfield Road used to defray expenses incurred by the Association. Warminster, PA 18974 (215) 421-6994 [email protected] ARTICLE V – AT-LARGE DIRECTORS 1) There shall be four (4) at-large directors of the Association, elected by majority vote of the ARTICLE I – NAME members eligible to vote. The at-large directors This organization shall be known as the Professional shall serve four year terms. Football Researchers Association, Inc., and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Association. 2) The at-large directors shall serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Association. ARTICLE II – PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES 3) In the event of the death, incapacitation, or The purposes and objectives of the Association are: resignation of an at-large director, the Board of 1) to foster the study of professional football as a Directors shall designate a successor to complete significant social and athletic institution; the unexpired term. 2) to establish an accurate historical account of professional football; and ARTICLE VI V – OFFICERS 1) The officers of the Association shall be a president, 3) to facilitate the dissemination of professional football a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer elected research information through publications and by majority vote of the members eligible to vote who presentations. participate in an election, the officers shall serve one two year terms. (Amended 1987) In addition to the four elected positions, there shall be three ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP appointed officers: the executive director, 1) Membership shall be open to those who have a assistant executive director and editor-in-chief of sincere interest in the history of professional football or Coffin Corner. related subjects. 2) The officers shall serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Association. THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 30, No. 7 (2008) 4 3) In the event of the death, incapacitation, or emergency, meetings shall be announced two months resignation of the president, the vice-president shall in advance through publication in the Coffin Corner, assume the office of president. In the event of a and they shall be open to all members of the vacancy in any other office, the Board of Directors shall Association. Meetings shall be conducted in person designate a successor to complete the unexpired term. or by a method determined by the Board of Directors. 4) The president shall preside over meetings of the Board of Directors and any meetings of members, Other meetings must be by first –class mail to each appoint all committees and their chairmen with the member of the Board at least two weeks in advance. advise and consent of the Board of Directors, (Amended 12/03) receive reports from all committees, carry out directives of the membership and the Board of 3) The president shall preside over all meetings of the Directors, submit an annual budget to the Board of Board of Directors. Directors, and ensure that the corporate and tax responsibilities of the Association are fulfilled. 4) A quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the members of the Board. Proxy 5) The vice-president shall assume all duties of the voting is not allowed. president in the absence of the president. The vice- president shall also chair the membership 5) The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, shall committee. schedule any a general meeting of members of the Association every two years. At least one member 6) The secretary shall keep the minutes of the of the Board of Directors must be in attendance for Association, assume responsibility for the meeting to become official. correspondence directed to the Association, and maintain a register of members and their interests and expertise. The secretary shall also be the chair ARTICLE VIII VII – COMMITTEES of the fundraising committee. 1) The president assistant executive director, with the approval of the president, shall appoint all 7) The treasurer shall assume responsibility for committees and their chairmen with the advice and finances, prepare and maintain books suitable for consent of the Board of Directors. audit, and, under the direction of the president, file any necessary tax returns, financial reports, and corporate 2) Each committee shall consist of a chairman and of reports. any other members appointed. 8) The executive director is appointed by the 3) The Nominating Committee shall submit to the president and shall be responsible for the daily president the names of nominees for offices and activities of the association. The executive director at-large directorships. Said committee shall receive shall appoint the assistant executive director. nominations from any member and shall determine whether the nominated person is eligible for 9) The assistant executive director serves at the election and willing to serve. The membership discretion of the executive director. The assistant committee shall be responsible for formulating and executive director shall oversee all committees. implementing initiatives to increase membership in the Association. 10) The editor-in-chief of Coffin Corner is appointed by the president and shall be 4) The Publication Committee shall be responsible responsible for all aspects of the publication of for all the Association’s publications except the Coffin Corner. Coffin Corner. The fundraising committee shall be responsible for formulating and implementing initiatives to raise funds for the Association. ARTICLE VII VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1) The Board of Directors shall consist of the four at- 5) The editorial staff of the Coffin Corner shall be large directors and the four seven officers.