2023 Banquet Adult Award Honorees

Chief John Drake was presented the Fred Russell Distinguished American Award, this chapter's most prestigious adult award.  

Presenting him this award were (from left) NFF Chapter President Wally Conyers and Dr. Kevin Dyson.

The Fred Russell Distinguished American Award recognizes supporters of American values and the Midstate community. First presented in 1969, it is named in honor of Mr. Russell, the former sports editor for Nashville’s afternoon newspaper, the Nashville Banner, from 1930-98. Russel was a founding member of this NFF chapter and won the Distinguished American Award from the National Football Foundation. Russell is a member of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

Maurice Fitzgerald was selected as this year’s Roy Kramer Contribution to Football Award.  

Presenting Fitzgerald with this award were NFF board members Mike Tribue (right) and Murphy Fair.

The Roy Kramer Contribution to Football Award is presented to a local individual who has been instrumental in promoting the game of football with the highest level of leadership, integrity and participation  The award is named in honor of the former SEC Commissioner and Vanderbilt Athletic Director Roy Kramer.

Former NFF Board Member, Bob Hyde, was this year's recipient of the Bonnie Sloan Courage Award. 

Bob unfortunately passed away in 2023, accepting on his behalf was his brother, Don Hyde.

This award is named for Bonnie Sloan who attended Nashville's Litton High School before twice earning All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a lineman at Austin Peay.  He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 but a knee injury cut short his NFL career after only one season.  Sloan accomplished these feats despite being deaf and is one of only three deaf players to ever play in the NFL.  Poplar communicated with Sloan at the banquet using sign language as both of Poplar's parents are deaf.  This award is presented to a Midstate player, coach, or staff member who faced obstacles and fought back to succeed in the spirit of Sloan!

Chris Humphreys was this year’s recipient of the Art Demmas Outstanding Official Award. 

Presenting the award were NFF board members Mike Organ (left) and  Junior Ward (right).

This award named for this NFF chapter co-founder Art Demmas, who played football at Vanderbilt and was an NFL official from 1970-96.  Demmas worked four Super Bowls during his career and after retiring from the field he assisted the NFL officiating department by reviewing games and grading their officials.

The winner of the Rick Regen Community Volunteer of the Year Awards was Orlando "Catfish" Pender.

This NFF chapter recently created a new award in 2022 honoring local volunteers and named it the Rick Regen Community Volunteer of the Year Award.  The late Regen spent more than 30 years volunteering his services at most every sporting event and major sporting initiative in Middle Tennessee. He was a prime contributor to the efforts to successfully pass the stadium referendum required for the Titans franchise to move to Nashville in 1997 as well as the “Save Our Predators” in 2007.