Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve Its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere
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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
Larry Taylor, President 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.
10: Ron Wolf-Gold Jacket Hall of Fame 17: Robyn Fralik-BGSU Head Basketball Coach 24: Will Shields-Gold Jacket Hall of Fame
1: Jensen Lewis - SportsTime Ohio 8: Anthony Munoz - Gold Jacket, Hall of Fame 15: Reggie Holmes-Former NFL Player 22: McKinley (Dan Reardon) vs. Massillon (Nate Moore) 29: Don Padgett-PGA
5: Renee Powell-PGA Hall of Fame 12: Vince Kehres-Mount Union 19: Alison Silverio-University of Notre Dame Tennis Coach 26: Jerry Snodgrass-OHSAA Commisioner
3: Kevin Lucas and A.J. Digby - Mount Union Track and Field 10: Todd Blackledge-ESPN 17: Shemy Schembechler -The Rivalry Show 24-26: Bill Greene-247Sports.com 31-2: Kenny Roda and Jt Turk- WHBC
7: Dawn Stewart - Otterbein University, Athletic Director 14: Tom Hamilton - Indians Broadcaster 21: George Veras - Pro Football Hall of Fame 28: Terry Bowden - Head Football Coach, University of Akron
4: Jim Porter - CEO and Publisher-Canton Repository 11: Gregg Pruitt - Former Browns Player 18: Shawn Lutz - Head Football Coach, Slippery Rock University 25: Nick Shook - NFL Network, NFL.com
4: Dave Robinson - Gold Jacket, Hall of Fame 11: Bob Wylie - Offensive Line Copach, Cleveland Browns 18: Ken Babby - Owner-Akron Rubber Ducks
15: Jim Tressel - YSU President 22: Keith Dambrot - Head Basketball Coach, Duquesne University 29: J.B. DeRosa - NBA Official
6: Bob Huggins - Head Basketball Coach, West Virginia 13: Chris Holtmann - Head Basketball Coach, Ohio State
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: 2018-2019
Board of Directors:
President: Larry Taylor
Vice President: Jeff Boccuti Secretary: Jim Lindesmith Treasurer: Tim Richard
Ex-Officio: R.J. Van Almen
Trustees:
(2017-2019) Dale McKimm, Peter Ferguson and Jim Saliola
(2018-2020) Jim Starrett, Tom Kell and Bill Costello
Speakers Committee:
Chairman: R. J. Van Almen
David Baker, Pete Fierle, Michelle Norris, Mike Gallina, Jim Lindesmith, J. D. Graham, Bill Costello, Gene Dechellis, Jim Mitchell, Jeff Thornberry, Jim Starrett, Jeff Boccuti, Jim Osborn, Larry Taylor, Randy Santangelo, Tim Richard and Wade Hostetler.
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