The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Lehigh Valley Chapter Edward J. Watto President Swiftwater

To help celebrate the 41st anniversity of the Lehigh Valley Chapter, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, The Chapter announces its annual high school scholarship award henceforth will be known as the Albert M. Beneck Memorial Scholarship.

Al served 25 years as the chapter's secretary. He also wore may hats in the organization before going over the goal line of life on December 2, 1998 at age 82. A graduate of Bucknell University he retired from the Bethlehem Steel in 1976 being employed for 38 years. He was a Hellertown Councilman for 34 years and interim mayor.

Since inception for the 1989-90 year, 13 scholarships worth $18,000 have been granted to the Beneck-type award.

To many old-timers the late John Mitchell Quigg was the "Father" of the Lehigh Valley Chapter, National Football Foundation. During a table conversation while in New York on business Quigg was asked to explore the possiblilty of a Chapter in our area. Returning home, Quigg was encouraged by the late V.J. "Pat" Pazzetti. As a result they were among 14 area amateur football devotees who met on March 17, 1960 to take the first steps toward forming a Chapter.

Among those present then with Quigg and Pazzetti at the Bethlehem Steel Club. Hellertown to hear the guest speaker, Harvey Harman, national executive director, were H.J. Bowles, J. Bernie Crum, W.B. Leckonby, R.L. Lukens, James P. McConologue, Malcolm McLaren, Robert Numbers, L.J. Rosati, Gen. P.L. Sadler, Raymond Whispell, J.H.Whritenour and G.C. Zarnas.

Quigg was elected temporary chairman of a steering committee to form a Chapter. It resulted in a meeting on June 6, 1960, in the Pomfret Club, Easton at which a Chapter Founders Certificate was accepted from the national organization. Attending were 50 of the nearly 100 enrolled charter members. Quigg was elected chapter chairman and Pazzetti honorary chairman. "Founding Member" certificates were given to the 14 listed above.

We also give recognition to three living members of the 14 'founding members' of the chapter started in 1961. They are William B. Leckonby, Robert Numbers and Joseph H. Whritenour.

Since 1960, when the late John Mitchell Quigg became the 'Father' of the chapter, ten others have joined him in Football Valhalla. They are: V.J. "Pat Pazzetti, H.J. Bowels, J. Birney Crum, R.L. Lukens, James McConlogue, Malcomb McLarnen, Larry J. Rosati, General P.L Sadler, Ray Whispell and Gust C. Zarnas.

The first Scholar-Athlete Banquet was held on Jan. 16, 1961 in Hotel Bethlehem. Twenty-one scholastic honorees and four collegians were honored. Jeffrey Marsh of Nazareth was named the top scholastic scholar athlete before a crowd of 300, capacity for the hotel.

Harman lauded the Chapter for its amazing growth since March and said it was the third largest Chapter in the country.

A few weeks later Jeffrey Marsh, Herb Bagley and Barry Milles, respectively scholar athletes from Phillipsburg and Easton were honored at a New York meeting of the National Executive Board and later met with Gen. Douglas MacArthur a National officer of the N.F.F. whose aim then and always has been to establish a true concept of football and gain recognition of the significant role it plays in preservation and advancement of the American way of life.

Since our 25th year 1985 we have had three Presidents, Dr. Richard Zahm, Dr. John Ifkovits and A.D. Edward Watto and the Board of Directors took on a new look with exceptions Jack Roth 1st VP, Dom Tanzella 2nd VP, Franklin "Skip" Baer 4th VP, Dr. John Ifkovits(Past Pres.), John Whitehead (former Lehigh Coach Div II Champ) and Rev. James Prior (Chaplain). The Chapter has 12 past presidents, with Edward Watto being the present president. Ed Novogratz, Northampton is the Chapter's only president to serve two separate terms. Dr. John P. Ifkovits served the Chapter as president for 10 straight years.

The late Al Beneck (sec.) and Skip Baer (3rd VP) were in charge of printing of our program book from 1985-1994. In 1995 Dom Tanzella (1st VP) took over the printing of the program. The program is our main income for the scholarship we give away.

Dom has been a member of the Board since 1968 when he took over for his late father Vince Tanzella who passed away a week before our Old Coaches nite banquet. Vince was part of the first Banquet in 1961 and along with this writer were among the first 100 members.

After revolving the Annual Banquet between Easton and Allentown it was shifted to Norhtampton in order to accommodate larger attendance. Doubling the attendance also increasing the number of High Schools to 33 and 6 Colleges and universities. The Chapter has honored 745 high school scholar-athletes and 226 collegian scholar-athletes.

Three sons from two families were Chapter scholar-athletes in the 1980's and 1990's. In 1980's, Greg, Brian and William Kester from Northern Lehigh and in 1990's, Johathan, Jeffrey and Jeremy Lee Regina from Pleasant Valley. One set of twins -- Brian and Bruce Roberts of Northern Lehigh were scholar athletes in 1981.

The Chapter conducted many other affairs over the last 40 years which included Coaches Night when mentors participated in a question and answer period, football clinics for players and coaches in the nation spoke, after season gatherings to honor outstanding high school individual performances in field participation. The chapter also was involved in the first three Larc Games and formed a Lehigh Valley Chapter Hall of Fame honoring annually outstanding players, coaches, officials and members. There are 100 members in the Chapter's Hall of Fame including five in National's couter-part honor group - Vincent J. "Pat" Pazzetti, Gust Zarnas, Dennis Onkotz, Chuck Bednarik and Lou Michaels.

To some 40 years is a long span, but in 40 years the chapter gained a lot of yardage and scored numerous touchdowns. A lot of sweat got the chapter started and kept it going. There is a solid foundation upon which 40 successful years have been added. More can be piled on if the aims and energy of Quigg and those other recipients of "Founders" certifictes in 1960 are duplicated.

S. Parnell Lewis 2000