The Touchdown Club of Atlanta Celebrates its 69th Year
Founded on September 26, 1938, when a group of fans of the game decided to promote the game of football in the city, The Touchdown Club of Atlanta has continued its mission now for 69 years, that being to promote and recognize the best of the best, so to speak, in the high school and college ranks.
Among the founding fathers of the club were Hal Voohis, Herb Bonner, Buck Cheves, Pop Phillips, Forest Fowler, Fred Moore, O.B. Keeler, George Gardner, Ben Sinclair, Nuck Flowers, Walter Powell, Everett Strupper, Coach W.A. Alexander and several high school and college football officials.
All of those folks have longed passed on, but dedicated and selfless men continue the direction set forth by those men.
The leadership and membership of the club today consists of former college players who earned varsity letters, high school and college officials and folks who may have never played the game beyond the high school level, if at all. The thing that they all have in common is their love of the game and interest in high school and collegiate football.
The format remains much the same over the years at the weekly meetings. A high school back and lineman of the week is honored, along with a high school coach of the week. Last year, we honored a high school team of the week in partnership with Fox 5 TV.
Often a major college head football coach serves as a guest speak. When scheduling problems preclude that event, then a major sports figure comes to the meeting to impart to the faithful their views on the happenings of the day, and those folks range from athletic directors or former college or pro gridiron stars.
One thing that is unique about the Touchdown Club: While the committee that picks the high school players of the week are looking for major college players - the cream of the crop in the Metro Atlanta area - the athletes picked are selected not just on their athleticism but also on their academics and character.
The committee that picks the players of the week makes it very clear that grades and character are equally as important in their selections as is ability to play the game.
At the end of the season, the club puts on its annual awards ceremony, which recognizes coaches and players far and wide.
On the high school level, the top awards are the Bobby Dodd National High School Back and Lineman of the Year Awards, the players regarded as the top athletes moving on to the college ranks. The awards are named in honor of the late Bobby Dodd, the former Georgia Tech head football coach and athletic director.
On the collegiate level, the club honors the top offensive and defensive players in the Southeast as well as the SEC and ACC Coach of the Year. There is also the Frank Sinkwich Award, presented in memory of the former Heisman Trophy Winner from the University of Georgia. That award is given to a person for a lifetime of contributions to the game on the college level. Furthermore, the organization recognizes a bevy of high school coaches, whose schools either won state championships or achieved distinction during the past season.
Among the top awards presented to high school coaches are the Corky Kell Award, given to coaches who have reached special milestones in their illustrious careers, and the Wright Bazemore Award, presented to the overall Coach of the Year from the high school ranks in Georgia. That award is presented in memory of the former Valdosta coach, whose teams won 14 state championships and three national titles during his 31+ year reign at the south Georgia town.
That’s not all. The club honors a top football official through the presentation of the George Gardner Award, one of the founding fathers of the club and a man who became known as the “father of football officiating.” The award is given to a person who has spent the great majority of his life officiating the game and who has made considerable contributions to the game of football through his commitment and dedication to officiating the sport.
Another award presented for service to the club is the I.M. Sheffield, Jr., Loyalty Award. It is chosen by the outgoing President of the organization to a member who has excelled in his service to the organization during the President’s year of running the organization. This year will be the first time in five years that the award has been presented.
