NFF Chapter Leadership Award Recipients
Biography
While attending a board meeting of the Bill Denny/Central Jersey chapter 23 years ago, Tom Bara claims he was surreptitiously elected president and as of this date has been unable to give the honor back. Such is the wit and humor of Tom Bara.
Founded in 1968 and named after the legendary coach at South River High School, the Central Jersey Chapter has been honoring high school and collegiate scholar-athletes in Middlesex County for the past 41 years. Nearly $200,000 in scholarships has been distributed to further the educations of the best in the region, and without Tom Bara and a dedicated board of directors, none of this would be a reality.
"The opportunity to be part of the NFF, through the Bill Denny Chapter, gives me the opportunity to honor the individuals and the game of football which became an integral part of my development", said Bara. "Football instilled in me discipline, hard work and teamwork: qualities that have served me well in my career."
A strong presence in the state, the Central Jersey Chapter also presents Distinguished American, Official of the Year, Coach of the Year, Educator of the Year, and a Sports Writer of the Year awards at its annual banquet honoring the region's scholar-athletes. The full slate of awards allows the chapter to recognize all of the key players in the community supporting amateur football at the highly anticipated event.
After graduating from South River High School where he was a member of the state championship football team, Bara attended Colgate University, earning three varsity football letters with the Raiders. In 1972, Bara joined the FBI as a special agent, serving until his retirement in 2000. Retirement did not last long as Bara formed the Bara-Hutton Group, a private investigation and security services agency, with fellow former FBI agent William Hutton.
A volunteer coach at South River and with local Pop Warner programs, Bara also plays an active role in the Knights of Columbus, Lions Club and the Retired FBI Agents Association. Bara currently lives in South River with his wife Karen. They have two grown sons, Scott and Brett.
