2007 HOF Game Mascot named
Paige Lewis (center) poses with Ronald McDonald and Canton Mayor Janet Weir Creighton. |
The 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities will be extra special for Paige Lewis of Louisville, Ohio. The 11-year-old has been selected as the official McDonald’s Mascot for the 2007 AFC-NFC Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 5. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints will kick off the 2007 NFL preseason from Fawcett Stadium during the nationally televised game that evening.
Paige was picked from among 17 finalists during a drawing held at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The finalists were selected from each of the participating McDonald’s Restaurants in the Canton area that included McDonald’s restaurants in Massillon, Louisville, and Alliance. Each finalist received a McDonald’s gift bag as well as a Hall of Fame t-shirt.
The McDonald’s official Hall of Fame Game Mascot, a 5th grader at Pleasant Grove Elementary School, and three other family members will be guests at the pre-enshrinement Hall of Fame brunch, enshrinement, pre-game tailgate party, and the Hall of Fame game. In addition, Paige will pose for a photograph with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 enshrinees – Gene Hickerson, Michael Irvin, Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Thurman Thomas, and Roger Wehrli. Paige will also be introduced during pre-game ceremonies of the Hall of Fame Game.
Among those present for the drawing, held during a luncheon for the mascot finalists were: Steve Perry, president/executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; Guy Cecchini, owner/operator of participating McDonald’s; Canton Mayor Janet Weir Creighton; and Ronald McDonald.
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