Illinois NSA - BPA Hall of Fame
- Class of 2009
The Third Annual Illinois NSA - BPA
Hall of Fame Induction Banquet was held on Saturday December 5,
2009 at the Holiday Inn Express in Bradley with nearly one hundred
people in attendance honoring the nine inductee's making up the
Class of 2009. The Illinois NSA - BPA Class of 2009 includes;
Tim Demetrulias - Director from Cahokia, Les Duncan - Director
from Matteson, Gordie Greenley - Meritorious Service from Kankakee,
Vic Laredo - Director from East Peoria, Jim Parks - Umpire from
the Quad Cities. Mike Peters - Meritorious Service from Kankakee,
Eastside Centre Complex - Hall of Champions from East Peoria,Mattoon
Pride Softball Club - Hall of Champions from Mattoon and Gordy
McFarland Sports Complex - Hall of Champions from Troy.
After a buffet style meal, Bob Kerness
Illinois NSA UIC opened the evenings program by introducing Illinois
NSA - BPA State Director Gerry Gund by saying, "Without Gerry
there wouldn't be the NSA." Gund welcomed those present before
thanking his sponsors, Holiday Inn Express, Homestead Restaurant,
Decker Sports, Xtreme Promotional Products, Maximum Performance,
Inc and Weber Printing. Gund than went on to introduce the Illinois
Hall of Fame Committee. Gund than introduced the evenings Master
of Ceremonies Brendan Olszewski from News Web Radio in Kankakee.
Olszewski thanked the sponsors of
the evenings program and than made his opening remarks before
introducing the evenings guest speaker Ted Petersen. Petersen
a native of near by Momence and a former NFL player for the Pittsburgh
Steelers with two 'Super Bowl Rings' to his credit and currently
the Athletic Director at Kankakee Community College.
Petersen spoke about how sports have
helped in life by saying, "Chuck Noll taught us to play within
the rules. He wanted you to be mentality tough, play within the
framework of the rules and just physically beat up your opponent."
Petersen went on to tell how in college he was the starting tight
end and the coaching staff moved to the offensive center position
by saying, "I was really pouting and thinking about transferring
and now I tell kids 'you know what, you need to work hard, don't
quit and keep a great attitude because great things happen when
you do'." Petersen while speaking about his college career
said, "Our best year ever was five and six but we were winners
because we were prepared to win."
Petersen closed by telling what athletics
has done for him saying. "I became a better person, more
resilient, stronger, tougher, That's what happens when you play
athletics. What else is really important are the relationships.
It does not matter what level you play at, you learn the same
things you develop the same friendships."
Petersen took the time to field questions
from those attending answering how his Superbowl champions Steelers
would compare to today's teams and showing his Superbowl rings
to those who asked. Petersen also signed autographs to photos
for all who asked him to.
Gund read from the statue that was
given to each inductee, "Illinois NSA Hall of Fame. In recognition
of your outstanding service and dedication to NSA, Member (inductee's
name & category) to Illinois Softball. December 5, 2009."
At the close of the evening Olszewski
announced that the 2010 Illinois NSA - BPA Hall of Fame Induction
Banquet would be held Saturday December 4, 2010 at the Holiday
Inn Express in Bradley.
