NFF 2020 Banquet Program

NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
& COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
WALTER J. ZABLE/SAN DIEGO CHAPTER
We are justifiably proud of the genuine sportsmanship and integrity exhibited in high
school and college football. An emotionally integrated force, football provides the
common denominator and rallying ground for students, faculty, alumni and friends
of our great American schools,colleges and universities. To no small degree, football
provides a unique training field for leadership in our competitive society. We earnestly
strive to support educators in a desire to maintain the popularity of football as the
finest and most testing game for developing skills of competition. Weighing equally
with football ability in selection of the Scholar Leader Athlete awards, are scholastic
excellence and community leadership. Tonight’s event is the 48th Annual Banquet
to honor outstanding Scholar-Leader-Athlete high school and college players of the
Greater San Diego area selected by the Awards Committee of this chapter.
SCHOLAR–LEADER–ATHLETE SELECTION
The 2019-20 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athletes
were selected from a group of outstanding nominees from San Diego area high schools,
colleges and universities. The schools were contacted, and recommendations from
principals and football coaches, along with grade transcripts, were considered. A
scholastic average of 3.0 or better is one of the requirements for consideration of this
top award. The student must have also received All League honors as a football player.
Citizenship on and off the campus is a third consideration in the selection process.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steven R. Brand
Brian Fogarty
Johnny Garcia
Chase Hartman
A. E. “Spike” Harvey
Dan Herbert
Stuart Lee Lourie
John McColl
John Nielsen
Tim Oder
Jim Pehl
Carole Roth
Paul Rudy
Jerry Schniepp
John Shacklett
Brandon Stone
Bruce Ward
W.B. “Andy” Anderson, Emeritus (dec.)
Dr. George Brown (dec.)
Chet DeVore (dec.)
Sid Gillman, Emeritus (dec.)
Steve V. Haynes (dec.)
John T. Rozar (dec.)
Walter J. Zable (dec.)
AWARDS COMMITTEE
Brian Fogarty - Chair
Steven R. Brand
Neil Greer
Stuart Lee Lourie
John McColl
John Nielsen
Tim Oder
John Shacklett
Mary Van Nostrand
Bruce Ward
BANQUET CHAIR
A.E. “Spike” Harvey
BANQUET COORDINATOR
Jennifer Bower
CHAPTER OFFICERS
President – Brian Fogarty
Vice President – Dan Herbert
Treasurer – Jim Pehl
Secretary – Jennifer Bower
Past Presidents
Bob Babich
Al Coupee (dec.)
Bill Mast
Jerry Ringer
NFFCHF WJZ /SD AWARDS BANQUET 2020
WALTER J. ZABLE
Walter J. Zable, scholarleader-athlete,
was the
founder and chief executive
officer of San Diego-based
Cubic Corporation, one of
the nation’s largest and
most successful electronics
firms.
He graduated from the
College of William & Mary
and was an honorable
mention All-American
football player as well as
first-team All-South Atlantic
Conference low-hurdle
champion.
He lettered in football,
baseball and track. Zable was drafted to play professional football with the
New York Giants, but war-related duties did not allow him to play.
He received his master’s degree in physics and mathematics from the
University of Florida. William & Mary conferred upon him an honorary doctor
of law degree.
Zable’s football honors include selection to the Sports Illustrated Silver
Anniversary Team and induction into the William & Mary Hall of Fame. He was
the first recipient of the Distinguished American Award from this chapter of
the National Football Foundation. He was enshrined in the College Football
Hall of Fame and was presented with the Foundation’s highest recognition for
athletic and humanitarian excellence – the Gold Medal Award. He also received
the NCAA’s most prestigious award, the Teddy Roosevelt Award. In 1985, he
was named honorary chairman of the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, Calif.
His leadership honors include San Diego Magazine’s “Industrialist of the
Year,” National Management Association’s Golden Knight Award, City of
Hope’s “Man of the Year,” and San Diego Press Club’s “Headliner of the Year.”
In July 1992, Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder appointed him to a four-year
term on the William & Mary Board of Visitors. In February 1992, he was named
“Community Champion of the Year” by the San Diego Hall of Champions. In
1995, the San Diego Press Club selected him as a Headliner in Sports and
Business.
Zable was one of the founders of the National Football Foundation and
College Hall of Fame San Diego chapter that was established in 1971. and has
been one of its strongest supporters. He was a member of the national
organization’s Board of Directors.
Unfortunately, we lost Zable in June of 2012. He was 97 years old.
NFFCHF WJZ/SD AWARDS BANQUET 2020 3