National Awards
The Gold Medal, the Foundation's highest individual award, was instituted in 1958 and has since been presented to seven U.S. presidents, General of the Armies Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Court Justice Byron, "Whizzer" White, John Wayne, General Norman Schwarzkopf and Jackie Robinson, among others.
Janie and Bill Riddle received the Chapter Leadership Award for the Western Region at the annual NFFCHF luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on Dec. 12, 2000. This is the first time that a joint award has been made and the third time the Chapter has been so recognized (Frank Kush and Lew Shaw being previous recipients).
Janie and Bill Riddle received the Chapter Leadership Award for the Western Region at the annual NFFCHF luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on Dec. 12, 2000. This is the first time that a joint award has been made and the third time the Chapter has been so recognized (Frank Kush and Lew Shaw being previous recipients).
2011 Valley of the Sun Chapter Awards:
Frank Kush Offensive Lineman Award - Frank Joseph Kush (born January 20, 1929) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Arizona State University from 1958 to 1979, compiling a record of 176–54–1. Kush was also the coach of the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1981, the National Football League's Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts from 1982 to 1984, and the Arizona Outlaws of the United States Football League in 1985. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1995. Kush is of Polish descent and was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. Kush was a 170 lb. 2-way player for Michigan State and was a 1952 All American OG. The Award is given to the “best” senior offensive down-lineman in the State.
Andrus Peat of Corona de Sol
Earl Putman Dedicated Coaching Award - Coach Earl R. Putman, of Phoenix Arizona, passed away February 19, 2006.
Born Earl Robert Putman in Cincinnati, Ohio, he coached for 30 years and was head football coach at Moon Valley High School for 25 years. Coach Putman was a championship winning athlete, a championship winning coach, and gentle giant of a man in stature, character, and accomplishments. Coach Putman's believed people are basically good' and his goal as a coach was 'to make young men better.' Winning was a bonus, but character building, helping young men find themselves through football, was his reason for coaching. Selected as one of the
Top 25 Football Coaches of the 21st Century by the Arizona Republic in December 1999, he was called 'a revered coach.'
He had 167 wins at Moon Valley and his 1982 Rockets 14-0 season culminated in the AAA Arizona State Championship. He was named High School Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1986 and Skyline Division Coach of the Year in 1974, 1975, and 1988. He was head coach for the All-Star Game in 1981 and was honored by having the1985-86 All Star game dedicated to him. Moon Valley won the Skyline League Championships in 1981, 1982, and 1986, was AAA Arizona State Runner-up in 1986, and won the Fiesta Region Championship in 1989. He was inducted into the Arizona High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1985 and the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997. He received the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Outstanding Coaches Award in 1987 and the Arizona Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award in 1993. Other awards included the Arizona Republic All-Arizona Special Merit/Retiree Award 1989-90 and the Arizona Republic's Outstanding Coach, Men's Sports, for 1983.
Coach Putman was President of the Arizona Coaches Association in 1970-73 and remained active in that organization, the National Football Foundation, and the Arizona Coaches Hall of Fame for the remainder of his life.
Coach Putman was recruited by both Woody Hayes and the legendary Bear Bryant but elected to come to Arizona State on a track scholarship.
He set the 1951 Border Conference Record in shot put and discus. He played football at Arizona State in the fall of 1951 and a Los Angeles Examiner article described him as 'light footed as a gazelle on the grid.' Coach Putman graduated from Arizona State in 1957 with a BS degree and in 1964 from Northern Arizona University with a Masters degree. He was drafted in 1952 and served in the Army during the Korean War. In 1953, he was the All-Service champion in shot put and discus. And with Coach Putman and other future NFL players, the Fort Ord Warriors football team won the All-Service championship the same year. Honorably discharged from the Army in 1954 he was a 5th round draft choice for the New York Giants.
Teammates there included Frank Gifford, Kyle Rote, Tom Landry (player coach), and Vince Lombardi (position coach). Following a year in the Canadian League with the Hamilton Tiger Cats, he joined the Chicago Cardinals in 1957. The Earl Putman football trading card lists him as a center for the Chicago Cardinals and 'the biggest man in pro ball.' His 6 foot, 6 inch frame at 308 pounds, size 16 EEEE shoes, size 52 jersey, 44 pants, and size 8 headgear (created by splitting 2 normal helmets and splicing them together) made him the biggest man in the NFL in 1957.
Coach Ray Richards, Chicago Cardinals, said of his new center, 'amazing mobility...actually quick.
After retirement Coach Putman continued his service to young people as a mainstay in the free physicals for teen athletes program that screens young men and women who participate in school sports (Team Osteopathic Physicals for Students). Many young lives have been saved by this program which is provided free by the Steingard Group and others and with the assistance of more than 300 volunteers.
Notre Dame Prep Head Coach Scot Bemis and his coaching staff
Ron Pritchard Linebacker Award - Ronald David Pritchard (born April 2, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois)is a former American football linebacker who played nine seasons with the Houston Oilers and the Cincinnati Bengals, first in the American Football League, then in the National Football League. He attended Antioch High School (CA), and played college football at Arizona State University. In 2003 he was inducted into the
College Football Hall of Fame.
Michael Arredondo of Desert Vista
Danny White Quarterback Award - Danny White was born February 9, 1952, in Mesa, Arizona and is a former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, a football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. In his 15 year career, White had 1,761 completions on 2,950 attempts for 21,959 yards, 155 touchdowns, and 132 interceptions in his career.
He also gained 482 yards and scored 8 touchdowns rushing. Danny was named athlete of the century in Arizona in the year 2000 by the
Arizona Republic, posted the 2nd highest rated College QB of all time according to Sports Illustrated and threw the most TD passes in Texas Stadium. When he retired White had broken numerous Cowboys records including most four touchdown pass games in Cowboy History, most yards and TD's passing in a season. He was also elected to four Hall of Fames: (Arizona Sports, Arizona State, College Football and Arena Football).
Connor Brewer of Chaparral
Curley Culp Defensive Lineman Award - Curley Culp (born March 10, 1946, in Yuma, Arizona) is a former professional American football player. An offensive and defensive lineman, he played college football at Arizona State University, was the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion while at ASU, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1968 and 1969, and for the National Football League Chiefs, Houston Oilers, and the Detroit Lions. He was an AFL All-Star in 1969 and a six-time AFC-NFC Pro Bowler.
Jaxon Hood of Hamilton
