The Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club meets each Monday from early September through mid-May. Members arrive beginning at 9:30 a.m. Lunch is served at approximately 11:00 a.m., the program begins at 12:10 p.m., and concludes at 1:00 p.m.
Under this program with the Pro Footballl Hall of Fame, each member of the club will be entitled to free museum admission for one year, Sept. 1-Aug. 31. Also, Malone University and Walsh University offer free admission to their athletic events with your membership card.
Luncheon Club meets each Monday at:
Tozzi's on 12th (4210 12th Street NW)
330-477-7515
Some of the club highlights include:
Top quality speakers from the sports world
35-week schedule
Widely-regarded as the finest luncheon club in the country!
Membership helps support the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Great lunches at affordable prices! ($12.00 for members; $22.00 for guests)
Increased club awareness
Members receive annual admission pass to Hall of Fame
Free admission to Malone College and Walsh University athletic events
Annual golf outing
Memberships for the season remain just $35.00 and are on sale before and after the Monday programs.
For membership information:
Please contact Club Secretary, Jim Lindesmith at 330-452-6138
or
Judge W. Don Reader, President
Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club
c/o Pro Football Hall of Fame
2121 George Halas Drive NW
Canton, OH 44708
or
To enjoy your membership immediately, you may fill out your application at your first luncheon and give it to Club Secretary Jim Lindesmith along with a check for $35.00 payable to the Hall of Fame Luncheon Club.
Enjoy your membership in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club.
2011-2012 Speakers
![Hall of Fame defensive end Jack Youngblood entertained the Hall of Fame Luncheon Club on Sept. 28, 2009. [Photo courtesy of The (Canton) Repository]](/UserFiles/image/Youngblood_Luncheon_Page.jpg)
Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood entertained
the Luncheon Club on Sept. 28, 2009
Sept. 12 - Scott Woodruff - Sr V.P and CEO of the Cleveland Cavalier's NBA "D" League in Canton
Sept. 19 - Randall McDaniel - Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009
Sept. 26 - Terry Pluto - Sports columnist for The Plain Dealer
Oct. 3 - Dustin Fox - Former NFL player and Ohio State Buckeye
Oct. 10 - Don Treadwell - Miami (OH) University head football coach
Oct. 17 - Daryl Hazell - Kent State University head football coach
Oct. 24 - Tim Wistrcill - Athletic Director, University of Akron
Oct. 31 - Dick Ambrose - Cuyahoga Court of Common Please judge and former NFL linebacker
Nov. 7 - Rocky Bleier - Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Nov. 14 - Larry Kehres - University of Mount Union head football coach
Nov. 21 - Sharon and Mike Hargrove
Nov. 28 - Dan Ross - Commissioner, Ohio High School Athletic Association
Dec. 5 - Ted Ginn, Sr. - Glenville High School head football coach
Dec. 12 - Tim Walker - Malone University Head Men's Basketball Coach
Dec. 19 - Todd Blackledge - College Football Commentator/Former NFL QB
Dec. 26 - Mike Pagel - Former NFL quarterback
Jan 2 - Jeff Young - Walsh University Head men's Basketball Coach
Jan. 9 - Bob DiBiasio - ice President, Public Relations at Cleveland Indians
Jan. 16 - Dan Couglin - Cleveland sportscaster
Jan. 23 - Joe Horrigan - Pro Football Hall of Fame Vice President - Communications/Exhibits
Jan. 30 - Pat Narduzzi - Michigan State University Defensive Coordinator
Feb. 6 - Rob Keys - University of Findley head football coach
Feb. 13 - Bill Connelly - Ohio Dominican University Head Football Coach
Feb. 20 - Joel Nielson- Athletic Director for Kent State University
Feb. 27 - Jack Parks - Ohio State University football historian
Mar 5 - Terry Bowden - University of Akron Head Football Coach
Mar 12 - Luke Fickel - Ohio State University Head Football Coach
Mar 19 - TBD
Mar 26 - TBD
April 2 - TBD
April 9 - Annual Meeting
April 16 - Keith Dambrodt - The University of Akron head men's basketball coach
April 23 - Jack Hazen - Malone University Head Track Coach
April 30 - Joe Tait - former Cleveland Cavaliers radio announcer
May 7 - Bob Huggins - West Virginia University head mens basketball coach
May 14 - Browns
May 21- Annual Golf Stag
History of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club
One of the main reasons why the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton is because of the community spirit and support. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, many cities across the country expressed interest in having a Hall of Fame devoted to professional football. Canton was the only community that put together an impressive fund-raising drive. Nearly $400,000 was raised to have the Hall of Fame built.
At about the same time, former Hall of Fame Chairman Earl Schreiber, after attending the Agonis Luncheon Club in Dayton, Ohio, formed the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club.
The first meeting of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club was held at Benders Restaurant in downtown Canton in 1963. Soon thereafter, the venue was switched to Lakeshore Restaurant. Membership grew quickly and after using Topp’s Chalet for a short time, the meetings moved to its current site at Tozzi's on 12th Restaurant, just a few miles from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club, with a membership of more than 500, is considered to be one of the largest of its kind in the entire country. Meetings are held each Monday from mid-September through the middle of May. The national prominence of the Hall of Fame, coupled with the strong support of the club, continues to produce a remarkable list of national speakers on a weekly basis.
A club that knows no strangers, members enjoy fellowship, good food, and interesting speakers. Couple that with the enthusiasm of the member audience and for sports fans, the Hall of Fame Luncheon Club is THE place to be on Mondays during the season.
When the luncheon club was formed, the bylaws stipulated that the purpose of the club was to help support the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Originally, that support was reflected by members serving as drivers during Hall of Fame Weekend. The club’s next project focused on devoting a portion of the membership dues to paying for the Hall of Famers’ rings each year. Today, the Balfour Company, that designs the rings, donates the rings each year to the Hall of Fame.
Currently, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club has a new cause to show support for the Hall of Fame. The club will contribute $50,000 over a five-year period to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's national fundraising campaign. In addition, part of the proceeds from the weekly meal sales is used to sponsor the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “Free Senior Citizen Day” (62 and older) at the museum. The date for this year’s event was Wednesday September 23, 2009.
Also, Malone University and Walsh University offer free admission to all athletic events with your membership card. Aside from showing support to the Hall of Fame, this sponsorship also attracts attention to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club through media coverage of this splendid event.
In addition, each member of the Luncheon Club will receive an annual pass that will allow the individual unlimited free admission to the Pro Football Hall of Fame throughout the year.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club continues to contribute its support to the Hall of Fame museum while offering first-rate programs each and every week to its members.
2010-2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Board Members
President: Judge W. Don Reader
Immediate Past President: Jeff Thornberry
Vice President: Jeff Burry
Secretary: Jim Lindesmith
Asst. Secretary: Byron Bertram
Treasurer: Dave Seffens
Trustees (1-Year): Wimp Bagley, Bruce Sch
Trustees (2-Year): John Garner, Jim Osborn