About The Indiana Football Hall of Fame
|
The Indiana Football Hall of Fame was conceived in January, 1973, as an affiliation of the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Its purpose is to establish scholarships and endowments for excellence in football in the state of Indiana and to recognize those outstanding individuals who have contributed much to the game of football in Indiana. The Indiana Football Coaches Association formulates and directs all policies concerning nominees for induction into the Hall of Fame. Candidates include coaches, players, officials, sport media, and citizens of Indiana who have made prominent and lasting contributions to the advancement of football excellence. The Hall of Fame includes retrospection from Indiana’s prestigious football history, running the gamut from the early twenties to the present and into the future. The Hall of Fame also honors those individuals and corporations whose financial contributions have made the Indiana Football Hall of Fame a reality. The first meeting of the Indiana Football Hall of Fame founders was held at the Leland Hotel in downtown Richmond on May 15, 1973. Board of Directors were Hubert Etchison, Harry Davidson, Claude O'Maley, and Charles Wellings, all of Richmond; John Friend, Munster; Bill Siderwiez, Martinsville; Jules Siegel, East Chicago; Joe Talley, Tell City; and, Bob Williams, Indianapolis Star. The founding Board of Directors purchased the former US Post Office building at 815 North A Street in Richmond as the site for the Hall of Fame in July, 1974, at a cost of $98,000. The Post Office was built at the turn of the century, making it an excellent historical site for the purposes of the Hall of Fame. Artifacts include football photographs, mementos, uniforms, and equipment, from the early 1900's to the present, donated by high schools, colleges, and individuals from across the state. Plaques, photographs, and brief biographies of inductees, Hall of Fame scholarship winners, and All-Star teams are displayed. Ceramic tiles with signatures of donors who financially supported the opening of the Hall of Fame are displayed, along with the Founders Award plaques given yearly to a deserving individual who has made a lasting contribution to the Hall of Fame in the form of volunteerism. On September 4, 1974, Indiana Governor Otis Bowen issued a proclamation setting aside the month of September, 1974, as Indiana Football Hall of Fame month in recognition of the importance of football's excellent history to the State. For more information, call 765-966-2235 during Hall of Fame visitor hours, Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Other open times may be arranged by appointment for group tours. |
