NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2007 – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced that Archie Manning will become the organization’s sixth chairman since its founding in 1947, succeeding Ron Johnson, who has fulfilled a two-year term.
“The National Football Foundation stands in the forefront of promoting our great game,” said Archie Manning, 58. “Having served on the NFF Board for 14 years, I am humbled that my fellow members have asked me to take on this prestigious role. I am truly honored to carry on the organization’s rich traditions and critical mission of building the character of the young men who play our great sport.”
An All-America quarterback at the University of Mississippi, a 1989 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, and a Pro Bowl player with the New Orleans Saints, Manning has created a reputation as leading humanitarian, leveraging his fame to assist a wide range of causes, including his long-standing efforts to battle Cystic Fibrosis. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies, including Reebok, Gatorade, AstroTurf, Direct TV and CBS Sports.
“No person serves as a better example of what our organization represents than Archie Manning, and there is nobody better qualified to be our chairman than him,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “We are fortunate that Archie has accepted this role, and I look forward to working closely with him to build on the legacy created by Ron. As Archie assumes his new position, he inherits a post utilized by Ron to strengthen our organization’s impact from border to border and coast to coast.”
During Johnson’s tenure as chairman, the NFF positioned itself for strong growth in the coming years. Significant developments included relocating the organization’s corporate headquarters from Morristown, New Jersey to Dallas, Texas; creating a robust corporate partnership program; implementing several new initiatives to strengthen the NFF Chapter network; adding several new key partners to the Play It Smart Program, including the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the U.S. Department of Justice; adding several prominent national leaders to the board of directors, including Jim Delany, Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, Michael Moe, Kevin Plank, Mike Slive, Roger Williams and Deborah Yow; and launching the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which significantly expands the number of scholar-athletes the NFF recognizes each year.
“Having served on the board of The National Football Foundation since 1993, Archie’s leadership has played a vital role in helping to expand our organization’s impact over the past decade,” said outgoing Chairman Johnson. “Nobody has more passion for helping young football players develop on and off the field, and he is a true leader who will add significantly to the Foundation’s legacy of promoting the good in the game.”
Johnson will remain a member of the board, assuming a new role as chairman of the executive committee. In addition to Johnson, past NFF chairmen include Chester J. LaRoche, Vincent DePaul Draddy, William Pearce and Jon F. Hanson (Emeritus). Manning follows Johnson as the second member of the College Football Hall of Fame to serve as chairman.
Founded in 1947 under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and renowned journalist Grantland Rice, the NFF serves as a leading voice in the promotion of amateur football and its ability to develop the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and the drive for academic achievement in America’s young people.
With 121 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 Hampshire Honor Society, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.
Archie Manning Bio
When people think of Archie Manning, they think football. But Archie’s appeal transcends his athletic achievements. People far and wide have been inspired by his warm personality, his drive and sense of humor. He was recently selected Father of the Year by the National Father’s Day Council. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies, including Reebok, Gatorade, AstroTurf, Direct TV and CBS Sports. For 25 years he hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi and is active in a wide variety of charitable and civic causes.
Archie was born May 19, 1949, in Drew, Mississippi. He attended the University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American Quarterback and is the only Ole Miss player to have his number retired. He was voted Mississippi’s Greatest All-Time Athlete in 1992, and recently named Mississippi’s Most Popular Athlete of the Century. He was elected to the 50-Year All-South Team (1940-1990), named one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century in Louisiana and he and his son Peyton were named among the 100 All-Time Greatest College Football Players. Archie was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and is a member of other Halls of Fame including Louisiana and Mississippi.
In 1971, Archie was the second player chosen in the NFL draft – the number one draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. He set Saints passing records, played in two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1978. He was the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame. He concluded his 15-year career in 1985. He was also drafted four times by major league baseball.
While in pro football, he received the Byron “Whizzer” White Humanitarian Award, the Bart Starr Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the U.S. Jaycees named him one of 10 Outstanding Young Americans. In 2005 Archie received the Legends award from the Davey O’Brien Foundation and the Aspire award, a tribute to life’s coaches, from the Cal Ripken Foundation.
His community activities include Louisiana Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation, and National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
Archie and his wife Olivia reside in New Orleans and have three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli. Cooper is an institutional broker in New Orleans, and father of Archie and Olivia’s granddaughter, May and grandsons, Arch and Heid (pronounced ‘hide’). Peyton is a former All-American at Tennessee. As quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts he was named MVP in the National Football League in 2003 & 2004 and is a seven-time all-Pro selection. Also in 2004 he broke Dan Marino’s record by throwing for 49 touchdowns and in 2006 won the Walter Payton award as the “NFL Man of the Year”. He recently led the Colts to the Super Bowl championship and was named MVP of the game. Eli set 47 school records as quarterback of the Ole Miss Football team and in 2003 received the Maxwell Trophy as the Outstanding Player in College Football. Eli is the quarterback of the New York Giants and was the #1 selection in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Archie and Peyton wrote a book entitled “Manning: A Father, His Sons and A Football Legacy”. He and his boys also operate the Manning Passing Academy, a summer camp for high school quarterbacks and receivers.
Peyton and Eli both claimed National Scholar-Athlete Awards from the National Football Foundation, in 1997 and 2003 respectively, for their combined academic excellence, football performance, and community leadership in college. Peyton also claimed the Draddy Trophy as the absolute best in the nation that year for his combined achievements.
In honor of the Mannings’ college football accomplishments, the Sugar Bowl has created the Manning Award to go to the nation’s best college quarterback. Recently the National Father’s Day Council named Archie “Father of the Year,” and the United States Sports Academy honored him with the 2006 Distinguished Service Award. The Indiana Sports Corporation presented Archie & Olivia with the 2006 National Pathfinder Award, which recognizes individuals for their contributions and dedication to youth.
NFF OFFICERS
Chairman Ron A. Johnson
Chairman-Elect Archie Manning
Vice Chairman John L. Toner
President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell
Secretary/Treasurer George M. Weiss
NFF DIRECTORS
Clayton I. Bennett, President, Dorchester Capital
J. Murry Bowden, Founder, Chairman & CEO, The Hanover Company; College Football Hall of Famer, Dartmouth College
Bill Byrne, Director of Athletics, Texas A&M University
William V. Campbell, Chairman of the Board, Intuit Inc.; Former Head Football Coach, Columbia University
Joe Castiglione, Director of Athletics, University of Oklahoma
Michael J. Cleary, Executive Director, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)
Jeffrey Cooney, Director, EUE Screen Gems Ltd.
Eugene F. Corrigan, Former NCAA President; Former Commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference
Thomas R. Curtin, Esq., Partner, Graham Curtin, P.A.
David M. Davis, Principal, Gamble, Jones, Morphy & Bent; Director, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Football Committee
Gene DeFilippo, Director of Athletics, Boston College
Jim Delany, Commissioner, Big Ten Conference
Michael C.J. Fallon, President, Fallon & Associates, LLC
Jack Ford, Anchor, Court TV, Host, "Banfield & Ford: Courtside"
Archie Griffin, President/CEO, Ohio State University Alumni Association; College Football Hall of Famer, Ohio State; Two-time Heisman Trophy Winner
President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell, Former Commissioner, Big 12, Southwest and Metro Conferences; Former Executive Director, Orange Bowl
Terry S. Jacobs, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO, The JFP Group
Chairman Ron A. Johnson, Owner and President, Rackson Corporation; College Football Hall of Famer, University of Michigan
Jerry Jones, Owner, President and GM, the Dallas Cowboys
John Junker, President & CEO, Fiesta Bowl; Executive Director, Insight Bowl
Robert Kraft, Founder, Chairman & CEO, the Kraft Group; Chairman & CEO, the New England Patriots
Jefferson W. Kirby, Managing Member, Broadfield Capital Management, LLC
Willie Edward Lanier, Senior Vice President, Wachovia; College Football Hall of Famer, Morgan State University
Jack Lengyel, Former Director of Athletics, U.S. Naval Academy
Archie Manning, Consultant, Entergy Corporation; College Football Hall of Famer, University of Mississippi
Bill Martin, Director of Athletics, University of Michigan
Edward F. McGinley III, Former Senior Account Exec. Speer Leads and Kellogg
Michael Moe, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, ThinkEquity Partners LLC
Robert E. Mulcahy III, Director of Athletics, Rutgers University
Chuck Neinas, President, Neinas Sports Services, Inc.; Former Executive Director, College Football Association
Kevin Plank, Chairman & CEO, Under Armour
Christine A. Plonsky, Director of Women's Athletics & Men's and Women's Athletics External Services, University of Texas
Robert A. Simms, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Simms Capital Management, Inc.; VP, NFL Alumni Assoc. of NY
Mike Slive, Commissioner, Southeastern Conference
George M. Steinbrenner III, Principal Owner, New York Yankees
Larry D. Striplin, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Nelson-Brantley Glass Contractors, Clearview Properties
Grant Teaff, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA); College Football Hall of Fame Coach, Baylor University
Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, Commissioner, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Vice Chairman John L. Toner, Retired AD, University of Connecticut; Former NCAA President
Gene Washington, Director of Football Operations, National Football League
Secretary/Treasurer George M. Weiss, Chairman & CEO, Beechtree Capital Group (Merchant Banking)
Roger Williams, Former Secretary of State, the State of Texas
Deborah Yow, Director Athletics, the University of Maryland
NFF DIRECTORS EMERITUS
H. Jesse Arnelle, Esq., Retired Senior Partner, Arnelle & Hastie; Former Chairman, Penn State University Trustees
Jon F. Hanson, (NFF Chairman Emeritus); Chairman, The Hampshire Companies; Chairman, HealthSouth
Richard W. Kazmaier, Jr., President and CEO, Kazmaier Associates, Inc: College Football Hall of Famer, Princeton Univ.
E. Douglas Kenna, Former Chairman of the Board, Carlisle Corp.; College Football Hall of Famer, Army
Donald R. Keough, Chairman of the Board, Allen & Co.; Retired President and COO of The Coca-Cola Company
F. M. Kirby, President & Director, F. M. Kirby Foundation; Chairman Emeritus, Alleghany Corporation
John F. McGillicuddy, Retired Chairman & CEO, Chemical Banking Corporation
Ambassador Joe M. Rodgers, Chairman, JMR Investment Group, Inc.
William A. Schreyer, Chairman Emeritus, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
Thomas C. Scott, President, Thomas C. Scott & Associates, College Football Hall of Famer, University of Virginia
Walter J. Zable, Chairman & CEO, Cubic Corporation
