DALLAS, October 18, 2007 – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today the selection of five exceptional individuals as the recipients of the 2007 NFF Chapter Leadership Awards.








2007 NFF Chapter Leadership Award
Recipients
(Full Bios Included Below)

• Michael (Mickey) Heinecken - Northeast Region (Vermont Chapter)
• Christopher Kearney - Midwest Region (Chicago Metro Chapter)
• Bill Sprinkle - West Region (Montana Chapter)
• Chris Vaughan - South Region (TD Club of Houston Chapter)
• Ed Watto - East Region (Lehigh Valley Chapter)
  
  

With more than 12,000 members, the 120 NFF chapters reach more than 4,800 high schools and 400,000 football players each year with more than 315 annual events, including coaching clinics, leadership conferences, college nights, media days, awards banquets, and comprehensive free physicals for student-athletes via the TOPS program (Team of Physicians for Students).

The Chapter Leadership Awards, first presented in 1993, annually recognize five individuals, one from each region, for their commitment, generosity and leadership at the local level. The NFF Chapter Leadership Award winners have been selected for their extraordinary dedication and efforts in fulfilling the NFF’s mission of developing leaders through football. Each of the five leadership award winners will be honored during the NFF’s Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Sprinturf, on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.

“These five honorees represent the best of our efforts by all our chapter presidents to maintain a strong presence at the grassroots level,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “The success of our chapter network could not survive without the commitment and leadership of these individuals. It’s our honor and responsibility to properly thank and honor them, and I thank Sprinturf for joining us in our efforts.”

The 120 NFF chapters annually recognize close to 2,500 student-athletes with more than $800,000 in annual scholarships. These honorees have spearhead their chapters in this important NFF initiative, selecting the recipients, securing funds for future scholarships, and staging events to promote the best at the high school level. Their efforts ensure that future generations of players are inspired to achieve on and off the field. Also at the NFF Annual Awards Luncheon, presented by Sprintruf, five student-athletes from the 2,500 chapter scholar-athletes will be honored as the 2007 NFF National High School Scholar-Athletes.

Later that evening, the NFF will hold its 2007 Annual Awards Dinner, celebrating the organization’s 60th Anniversary. The evening will be highlighted by the induction of 14 of college football’s greatest legends in to the College Football Hall of Fame. Additionally, several awards will be bestowed that evening, including the Gold Medal, the Distinguished American Award and 15 National Scholar-Athlete Awards, totaling more than $300,000. For more information about the lunch or dinner, please call 800.486.1865 or visit www.footballfoundation.org.

Michael (Mickey) Heinecken
Northeast Region
Vermont Chapter

Legendary college football coach, chapter founder and respected friend of all in the State of Vermont, Mickey Heinecken truly represents the sprit of the game of football and all the values of the National Football Foundation.

Heinecken spearheaded the formation of the Vermont Chapter in 1993 and has served as its leader since its inception. He currently holds the position of chapter chairman. In this role, Mickey oversees the chapter’s annual scholar-athlete banquet, a senior high school all-star football game and the chapter’s scholarship and grant program for high school and youth football programs.

The Vermont Chapter annually honors a player from each of the 34 high schools in the state. From this group, the chapter awards scholarships to the six best student-athletes. In addition to the scholar-athletes, the chapter also honors individuals for their contributions to the game. The awards include: Official of the Year, Youth Leader of the Year, Contribution to Amateur Athletics, and the Distinguished American Award. Under Heinecken’s leadership, the chapter recently added a Player of the Year award that honors one player from each of the four divisions playing high school football in Vermont.

The chapter’s annual all-star game continues to be a great success. Ensuring that there will be at least one player from each school, the chapter stages a game that showcases 88 players in a North vs. South format and draws more than 2,000 fans to Middlebury College’s Alumni Stadium. Over 90 players who have played in the all-star game held spots on college rosters during the 2006 football season. Proceeds from the game support the chapter’s scholarship and grant programs.

“Prior to the 1993 Vermont was one of only a few states to not have an NFF Chapter,” said Coach Heinecken. “It has been very rewarding to have been part of our numerous initiatives, which have benefited football at all levels. Football is alive and well in our little state where football has actually been a growth sport with eight new high school programs having been started in the last ten years. The chapter has acted as a great conduit for the enhancement of the game.”

One of the Northeast’s standout football coaches, Heinecken took over the Middlebury football program in the fall of 1972. Twenty-eight years later, he retired at the age of 62 with a career record of 126-95-2, ranking him at the time as the sixth all-time winningest coach in New England Division III college football history.

A 1961 graduate of the University of Delaware where he earned Little All-American honors in football, Heinecken currently lives in Cornwall, Vermont with his wife Carol. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Christopher Kearney
Midwest Region
Chicago Metro Chapter

“Revitalized” and “re-energized” best describes the recent progress of the Chicago Metro Chapter, and Chris Kearney stands as the instrumental force in this remarkable turnaround. Since Kearney assumed leadership of the chapter in the fall of 2005, the chapter’s membership has grown from 13 individuals to 121 members with a steady stream of new interest, which will continues to expand its ranks.

Since Kearney and his board of directors stepped forward, the chapter has increased its college scholarships program; worked closely with the Chicago Bears to host a top-notch coaching academy for 225 youth and high school coaches; provided funding for five paralyzed high school players; and deepened the pivotal relationships with the more than 200 local high school football programs in the region. Scholarship grants by the chapter went from $5,000 in 2006 to $7,500 in 2007, and the chapter plans to distribute more than $11,000 this spring in 2008.

“We are proud of the Chicago Metro Chapter’s growth in the past two years, and we are confident that this will continue,” said Kearney. “Thanks to a diverse membership base, terrific media coverage, incredible support from Caroline Schrenker of the Chicago Bears and an outstanding chapter board of directors, we are becoming much more visible locally. It is very gratifying to recognize local high school student-athletes for their accomplishments. Thanks to the generous and proactive fundraising for our members such as Carl Allegretti, we will continue to provide thousands more in college scholarships each year going forward.”

Kearney’s efforts have made the chapter’s scholar-athlete banquet a must-attend event for fans and supporters in the Chicago area. Held at Harry Caray’s Restaurant, Jeff Joniak, the radio voice of the Chicago Bears, serves as the master of ceremonies. Past keynote speakers have included the Bears’ Steve McMichael and Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Following the event, Kearney personally takes the chapter’s scholar-athletes to visit College Football Hall of Fame inductee Gale Sayers for an once-in-a-lifetime question and answer session with the football legend in his office.

Kearney’s many roles include serving on the Team Selection Committee for the Capital One Bowl and Champs Sports Bowl. For 12 years, he served as chairman of the board of directors for Chicagoland Radio Information Services, part of the Chicago Lighthouse, which is the largest reading service to the blind in the United States.

A 1990 graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Kearney received the Purdue Citizenship Award, the highest honor presented by the Purdue Alumni Association for excellence in public service. Vice President of Sales at the Edward Hines Lumber Company, he is currently a candidate for the Crain’s Chicago Business “40 under 40” list of the 40 top executives under 40 years old. Kearney lives in suburban Chicago with his wife Jodi and their daughter and son.

Bill Sprinkle
West Region
Montana Chapter

As a player, a high school coach, a high school athletics administrator and a successful business leader, Sprinkle’s support and passion for Montana’s young people have earned him the respect of the people across the state.

Eleven years ago, Sprinkle took the reins of the presidency of Montana Chapter of the National Football Foundation, and his leadership has created great momentum for promoting football throughout the state. Each year, the chapter honors 12 student-athletes who represent the best and the brightest from all corners of Montana at its banquet held in Helena, and during Sprinkle’s watch, the chapter has distributed nearly $40,000 in scholarships.

The event draws nationally renowned speakers, including College Football Hall of Fame inductees Bill Carpenter from Army, John Gagliardi from Saint John’s (Minn.) and John Ralston from Utah State, San Jose and Stanford. From promoting the chapter during the telecast of the Montana -Montana State football game to supporting the seven Native American reservation schools in Montana with football programs, the chapter holds a special place in the NFF ranks.

“Promoting the needs of the football public and serving the needs of our members is tremendously rewarding,” said Sprinkle. “The quality of our student-athletes we recognize is incredible. You feel like you are truly making a difference.”

Following a high school football career where he earned Wigwam Sports High School All-American honors in 1964, Sprinkle continued his education and his football success at the University of Washington. He started and lettered for the Huskies in 1967 and 1968 as a defensive back while also returning punts. Sprinkle graduated from Washington in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.

Utilizing his dynamic leadership skills, Sprinkle served as the assistant executive director for the Montana High School Association from 1987-2005. Prior to that position he taught and coached on the high school level for 15 years. Sprinkle recently retired from the commercial property insurance business.

Sprinkle’s service to youth was not limited to his professional positions. He served on numerous committees including, First Vice-Chairman of the National Federation of State High School Associations Football Rules Committee and President of the Montana Coaches Association. He also helped launch and run the “Aim High Student Leadership” program for Montana high school students in all parts of the state for more than 15 years.

Sprinkle and his wife Danette reside in Helena and are the parents of the three grown children.

Chris Vaughan
South Region
Touchdown Club of Houston Chapter

As past president and current board member of the Touchdown Club of Houston Chapter of the National Football Foundation, Chris Vaughan has been a guiding force in the success of this chapter. He played an instrumental role in the merger of the former fledgling chapter with the TD Club of Houston four years ago, making it the strong and vital chapter that it is today.

A force in the city, The TD Club of Houston Chapter has raised more than $120,000 since its inception for a weight room project that has refurbished equipment at more than 27 area high schools. In addition to its weight rooms project, the chapter presents between $15,000-$20,000 a year to 25 deserving student-athletes at the chapter’s annual scholar-athlete banquet. The presidents of Rice University, the University of Houston and Texas Southern University select the scholar-athlete recipients.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of supporting our local schools in promoting the game of football,” said Vaughan. “Participation in football builds discipline, teamwork and the ability to work with people in authority. Most importantly, it exposes young people to positive peer pressure both on the field of play and in the classroom.”

This highly successful scholar-athlete luncheon is just one of many events the chapter stages each year. Several other annual programs and events include, the Greater Houston Sportsmanship Awards, the Touchdowner of the Year Awards, the Prairie View/Texas Southern “Labor Day Classic” Luncheon, the University of Houston/Rice University “Bayou Bucket” Luncheon, the Texas/Texas A&M Luncheon, the Greater Houston High School Player of the Year & Coach of the Year Awards Dinner and the Houston Texans Awards Luncheon. The proceeds of these events and others provide the resources for the chapter’s scholarship and weight room programs.

A 1979 graduate of the University of Houston, Vaughan served in the U.S. Army from 1971-1975. For the past 15 years he has worked as a Financial Representative for the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

Vaughan gives freely of his time, and his other volunteer efforts include the Boy Scouts of America, the Texas Bowl Competition Committee and the Knights of Columbus. A resident of the Houston suburb of Missouri City, Vaughan and his wife Diane have one son.

Ed Watto
East Region
Lehigh Valley Chapter

Established in 1961, the Lehigh Valley Chapter holds the distinction as one of the National Football Foundation’s oldest and most established chapters. Its success and longevity stands as a testament to the strong leadership of men like Ed Watto, one of many individuals who has devoted a great deal of time and effort to ensure the chapter’s rich history continues.

Watto, who has served as president for the past eight years and on the board since 1994, plays a key role in organizing all of the chapter committees and many events. Under his steady leadership, the chapter annually honors 34 high school scholar-athletes and six collegiate scholar-athletes, and since its inception the chapter has honored nearly 800 high school and 250 college scholar-athletes. The chapter creatively presents unique awards to each honoree, and the chapter’s most outstanding scholar-athlete receives a $2,000 scholarship. In addition to their highly successful scholar-athlete banquet, the chapter has staged several coaching academies and continues to support its local Play It Smart programs.

“I have really enjoyed my time working with the Lehigh Valley Chapter,” said Watto. “We have great people on our board of directors who are willing to give of their time and efforts to help the young people of our community. I have never had anyone turn me down when I have asked them to play a role in our chapter. We are very proud of what we have accomplished over the years.”

The chapter doesn’t stop with their local events. Every year the chapter rents a bus and travels to a college football game. Trips in the past have included games at Army, Navy, Notre Dame and many of the former “Kick Off Classics” that were held at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands.

A former coach and athletics administrator, Ed served more than 43 years in education. All but one of his 43-plus years was spent at the Pocono Mountain School District. He coached football for ten years, wrestling for 28 years and was the district director of athletics for an impressive 35 years, winning countless area and state awards. He graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and in 1964 with a Masters of Education.

The energetic Watto currently lives in Cresco, Pa., with his wife Kathryn. The couple has four sons and seven grandchildren. Two of Watto’s sons, Michael and Edward, were honored as Lehigh Valley Chapter Scholar-Athletes during their careers at Pocono Mountain High School.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Draddy Trophy and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., Play It Smart, the NFF National Honor Society, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes.

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