New York at Christmas Time

NEW YORK CITY-----I first visited New York City in 1944 as a Naval Gunner and did not know at the time that I would later spend 30 years in the Metropolitan area as the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton (N.J.) Times and Executive Director of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. I lived in the City first at 17 East 80th street in a six story Limestone Mansion, taking the elevator to work.
The National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame purchased the Mansion, located between 5th and Madison, for $700,000 and it was sold later for about the same price when the NFFHF re-located the College Football Hall of Fame at Kings Island, Ohio. Our office remained in the City at East 42nd street and I lived around the Corner from the United Nations headquarters.
The view was magnificent until a tall building was erected destroying the View. I moved to East 45th street near Broadway.
Our Chairman Vincent DePaul Draddy retired as Chairman of David Crystal, featuring Izod shirts and since he lived in Rye the headquarters was switched to Larchmont. When Draddy passed away the new officers moved the headquarters to Morristown,N.J. and only recently with another change at the top the office is now in the suburbs of Dallas.
The Limestone Mansion today is worth millions of dollars something that Draddy's replacements should not forget. Draddy's attorney George Weiss is the Secretary-Treasurer and was in charge of getting a buyer for the Mansion.
Draddy was succeeded first by Bill Pearce and later Jon Hanson and Ron Johnson. Mississippi's Archie Manning is replacing Johnson as Chairman. I boosted Manning for the Hall of Fame and later recommended him to Draddy as the speaker for his Hall of Fame Class at the Waldorf Astoria.
The fact that two Mississippians, Manning and McDowell, held key positions in the NFFHF is interesting. After my retirement was requested in 199l I continued as a Consultant under Bill Pearce. When Pearce died, Hanson, who I recommended to Draddy as a member of the Board wrote and told me that I would have no role to play when my contract expired at the end of the year.
With a dedicated group, primarily from Mississippi the All-American Football Foundation was launched in 1994 with the Banquet of Champions program beginning in 1995. On February ll, 2008 our 90th Banquet of Champions will be held at the Jackson Hilton.
In addition to selecting two All-America teams (1-A and 1-AA-2-3) after the Bowl games, after all of the returns are in, Coaches of the year, National Champions in all divisions, and ll Colonel Red Blaik Leadership Scholarship winners, the Foundation awards $1000 grants to the alma maters of the Blaik honorees to go to youngsters who need help whom they select.
Manning's sons, Peyton and Eli, were two of our Red Blaik honorees. So were Deuce McAllister and Aurelius Thomas, among others.Our head coach award is named after Johnny Vaught. Our assistant coach is named after Mike Campbell. Our coaches of the year carry the name of Frank Leahy. Our award to a football player who served his country carries the good name of Admiral Tom Hamilton of Navy. Our high school coach award is named after President Gerald R. Ford.
We are not competing with the NFFHF . I attended this year's dinner as a sports columnist. The Dinner was again outstanding with General Peter Dawkins and Roger Staubach,both over-seas war time warriors after their playing days, co-winners of the Gold Medal.
What the NFFHF does and what the AAFF does is good for Football.
****
I have been a member of the NFFHF since 1961 and started chapters for Executive Director Harvey Harman in Mississippi, Delaware Valley N.J. and other cities and countries coast-to-coast traveling as much as 260 days a year over 27 and a half years. When I revived the Memphis chapter Harman, the old Rutgers coach, recommend me to Chairman Chester J. LaRoche, an old Yale man and the first president of the NFFHF to take over Public Relations and Chaper membership duties. When Harvey died, Draddy, who succeeded LaRoche promoted me to succeed Harvey.
In this year's Dinner Program LaRoche was not mentioned. Neither were the Executive Directors Arthur Evans, George Little, Harman or McDowell.
The Football Hall of Fame Shrine began in 1947 at Syracuse with Grantland Rice the President.
Inductions were held on campuses and collections were taken to keep the Shrine in business.
The Shrine was in debt and could not pay its bills. Then the National Football Foundation was formed under the Leadership of LaRoche, Admiral Tom Hamilton. Colonel Ed Garbisch . Colonel Red Blaik, Bill Morton and others.
Inductions continued on home campuses until a decision was reached to have a great Dinner, inducting the players and coaches in style at the Hotel Astor in 1958. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was chosen as the first recipient of the Gold Medal. A month before the Dinner the Dinner Chairman was asked to give a report on the Dinner. He said he did not have time to do this and resigned. LaRoche asked Morton, the former Dartmouth star what should we do. Air Mail Bill said he played high school football with the best salesman in New York Vin Draddy. Chet asked Bill what school did he attend. Bill said "Manhattan, " Chet, the ole Yalie, said:" Manhattan." Morton asked whether he wanted to sell any tickets or not with the President of the United States coming to town.
Draddy came on board. Tickets and tables were sold and the NFFHF was in business. LaRoche, Morton, and Draddy became Gold Medal winners in the years that followed.
I continue to support the NFFHF as a dues paying member and renewed my membership after returning to Mississippi.
***
While in New York I enjoyed Lunch at 2l, the 75th Radio City Music Hall Christmas show,featuring the dazzling Rockettes, Dinner at Neary's, Lunch at Gino's and seeing many old friends before going to Massachusetts for the AAFF New England Banquet of Champions and returning to New York for the three-day Heisman Trophy celebration, featuring 2007 recipient Tim Tebow of the University of Florida, the first sophomore so honored. I have attended every Heisman Dinner since 1962--my 45th Heisman dinner.
Earlier in Baltimore I attended the Army-Navy game which I have attended since l962 with the exception of the game played in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Christmas time in the city there is nothing like it.