The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced today that Jim Dombrowski, a 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, has been voted for inclusion in to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

A consummate leader on and off the football field, Dombrowski won numerous accolades as one of the finest student-athletes in the history of the University of Virginia. The recipient of the NCAA Today’s Top Six Award for his combined athletic ability, academic achievement, leadership characteristics and campus involvement, Dombrowski was a unanimous First Team All-America pick in 1985 and was a three-time First Team All-ACC selection.

He also received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in back-to-back years (1984-85) as the ACC’s best offensive lineman. Equally impressive in the classroom, he earned First Team Academic All-Conference honors in 1985.

The New Orleans Saints chose Dombrowski sixth overall in the 1986 NFL Draft. He spent 11 seasons with the Saints and was named to the franchise’s 30th and 35th Anniversary Teams. He also received his Master’s of Education in 1991.

A former Toyota Leadership Award winner for his contributions to the Virginia football program, Dombroski’s jersey has been retired by the university. He resides in Mandeville, La., and works as a certified financial planner.

The rest of the 2010 Virginia Hall of Fame Class features:

* Herman Moore, University of Virginia All-American football player and 1st round draft choice for the Detroit Lions in 1991;

* Whitney Hedgepeth, All-American swimmer at University of Texas and Olympic Gold medalist;

* Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown University All-American, NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist in 2000;

* Jim Dombrowski, member of the College Football Hall of Fame and 11 year career in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints;

* Dave Robbins, the winningest college basketball coach in Virginia history from Virginia Union University with an overall record of 693-175;

* Larry Peccatiello, William and Mary Hall of Fame football inductee and 40 year professional coaching career in the NFL;

* Helmut Werner, All-American soccer player at Lynchburg College and 43 year coaching career at Randolph Macon College;

* Jim Ducibella, Virginia Press Association Award recipient and over 20 years of coverage of professional football and golf.

“The Class of 2010 brings eight of the most impressive résumés we have ever seen,” says Hall of Fame President Eddie Webb. “These individuals exemplify the Commonwealth’s diversity in sports from swimming to football, as well as decades of achievement.”

The 39th annual induction ceremony will take place on April 24, 2010, at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center, as the crowning event of Hall of Fame Weekend. Tickets go on sale January 15, 2010. For more information, call (757) 393-8031.

About the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
Since 1972, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum has honored Virginia’s contributions to the world of sports. The Commonwealth’s official hall of fame, and one of only 16 throughout the nation, its mission is to honor athletic excellence and serve as a nonprofit educational resource centered on health, math, science and character development programs, while inspiring visitors through sports history and interactive entertainment. For more information, go to www.vshfm.com.