NFF Columbus Chapter Holds 51st Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet

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Central Ohio HS Scholar-Athletes along with Urban Meyer and John Hicks
Credit: National Football Foundation
John Hicks receives the Ohio Gold Award from Chapter President Bill Wells
Credit: National Football Foundation
Central Ohio College Athletes along with Urban Meyer and John Hicks
Credit: National Football Foundation
Coach Urban Meyer address the audience at the 51st annual event
Credit: National Football Foundation
Jimmy Gammill receives the Maggied-Romanoff Award from Chapter President Bill Wells
Credit: National Football Foundation

Columbus, Ohio - The Columbus Chapter of The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame held its 51st annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet February 6 at the Ohio Union on the Campus of The Ohio State University. The event was sponsored by Nationwide Insurance.

Newly named Head Football Coach at Ohio State University, Urban Meyer was on hand and addressed the crowd of more than 325 in attendance.  Awards were given to top high school and college football scholar-athletes in the Central Ohio Area.  The honorees included 13 high school scholar-athletes who were presented with John H. McConnell and Worthington Industries Foundation Scholarships. Jimmy Gammill from New Albany HS was recognized with the Maggied-Romanoff Award as the most outstanding scholar-athlete of the group.  Local college scholar-athletes from Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan, Otterbein, Capital, Denison, Ohio Dominican and Kenyon were recognized as well and Chad Williams from Ohio Wesleyan who received a post-graduate scholarship.

Legendary former Buckeye offensive lineman, John Hicks received the Ohio Gold Award, the highest honor given by the organization, for contributions to amateur football. Former recipients include Eddie George, Archie Griffin, Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce, John Cooper, Gene Smith, Chris Spielman, Ann Hayes, Jim Tressel and Dr. E. Gordon Gee among others.

OSU has a record 20 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award recipients, including recent honorees Craig Krenzel (2003), Ahmed Plummer (1999), Greg Bellisari (1996), Bobby Hoying (1995), Joey Galloway (1994), and Brian Robiskie (2008).

The annual High School Coaches Award  was presented to Randy Baughman, the long-time Head Football Coach at Licking Valley High School.  The Tyson Gentry Courage Award went to Richard L. Smith, as an individual who has shown the courage exemplified by Tyson Gentry, former OSU football player who continues to recover from a spinal cord injury while at Ohio State.  Past winners included former OSU assistant coach Joe Daniels, former OSU football team member Dan Potokar and long-time Ohio State Sports Information Director, Steve Snapp.

The NFF is a member-supported non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of amateur football at local, state and national levels. The foundation with its chapters annually awards nearly $1 million in scholarships to over 3,000 high school and college student athletes for continuing education.

“It was a wonderful event,” said Bill Wells, president of the Columbus Chapter. “Coach (Woody) Hayes always preached about ‘paying forward. For those who played or love college football, this is a great way to support some of the great young people in our local high school and college community. The Foundation and it scholarships help mold the leaders of tomorrow through education and football.”