Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve Its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere
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 Football 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.
Some of the club highlights include:
Memberships for the season remain just $40.00 and are on sale before and after the Monday programs.
Please contact Club Secretary, Jim Lindesmith at 330-452-6138
or
Please contact Speaker Committee Chairman, R. J. Van Almen at 330-685-4605
Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club c/o Pro Football Hall of Fame 2121 George Halas Drive NW Canton, OH 44708
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 $40.00 payable to the Hall of Fame Luncheon Club.
Enjoy your membership in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club.
9: Mike Crawford - CEO Hall of Fame Village
16: John Ellenwood and Kari Pickens - Head M &W Basketball Coach, Ashland University
23: Jeff Logan - All Big Ten, Ohio State. Color Analyst CW Columbus
30: Jensen Lewis - Indians Broadcaster
7: Dick Reynolds - Otterbein, NCAA Champion Basketball Coach, Former AD
14: TBA
21: Ryan Bitzel - Physical Therapist Seattle Mariners
28: Nate Moore (Massillon) and Marcus Wattley (McKinley)
4: Vince Kehres - Head Football Coach, Mount Union
11: Ed Glass, Lowell Klinefelter, Thom McDaniels, Jack Rose, Don Hertler and Keith Wakefield
18: Frank Stams - President NFL Alumni - Cleveland Chapter President
25: TBA
2: Jerry Snodgrass - OHSAA Commisioner
9: Todd Blackledge - ESPN
16: Anthony Gonzalez - U.S. Representative, Ex-NFL Player
23: Walt and T.J. Downing - Super Bowl Champion (Walt),T.J. (O.S.U.)
30: TBA
6: Tim Walker, Former Malone University Basketball Coach, North Canton AD
13: Joe Horrigan - Pro Football Hall of Fame
20: Kelly Dine - Little League World Series
27: Ben Curtis - 2003 Open Champion (Golf)
3: Jeff Boals - Head Basketball Coach, Ohio University
10: John Eisenberg - NFL Journalist and Author
17: Tom Arth - Head Football Coach, University of Akron
24: Mark Thewes, Denver Broncos
2: Scot Loeffler - Head Football Coach, Bowling Green
9: Jack Park - Ohio State Historian
16: Lester Sanders - Motivational Speaker
23: Dr. Keith Beckett - Athletic Director, College of Wooster
6: Tom Crank and Tim Mead - Head Baseball Coaches, Malone University and Walsh College
13: TBA
20: Jim Tressel - President, YSU
27: Ben McDaniels - QB Coach, University of Michigan
4: TBA
11: Bob Huggins - West Virginia University, Head Basketball Coach
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 joined by Hank Critchfield, Lin Houston, Red Ryan, Joe Cross, Harry Van Almen, Wilbur Jacobs, Peach Thomas, and Bob 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 “Senior Day” (62 and older) at the museum.
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.
Current Board: 2019-2020
Board of Directors
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