American Football AssociationAmerican Football Association
The AFA’s Hall of Fame selection committee has completed its annual task of reviewing personal profiles of qualified individuals nominated for induction into the Semi-Pro/Minor League Football Hall of Fame as the "Class of 2017". Information submitted by HOF alumni and subsequent review by the selection committee resulted in the selection of 19 people for enshrinement this year.

Binghamton, New York May 13, 2017 -- The American Football Association’s Hall of Fame selection committee has completed its annual task of reviewing personal profiles of qualified individuals nominated for induction into the Semi-Pro/Minor League Football Hall of Fame as the "Class of 2017". Information submitted by HOF alumni and subsequent review by the selection committee resulted in the selection of 19 people for enshrinement this year.

This year's group of AFA Hall of Famers will be enshrined as the “Class of 2017” during the AFA's 37th Annual Semi-Pro/Minor League Football Hall of Fame Induction Dinner at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2121 George Halas Drive NW, Canton, Ohio 44708. The induction dinner will be part of a two day event for the AFA National Association, which will run from Thursday, June 22nd thru Friday, June 23rd. This is our fifth year at this venue and this year’s event promises to be even better.

Events Scheduled: 
• Sports & Celebrity Memorabilia Auction
• Annual AFA HoF Legends - meet the new inductees "Alumni Huddle Cocktail Party - 7pm Thursday, June 22nd
• Pro Football Hall of Fame Tours at your leisure
• 37th Annual AFA Semi Pro/Minor League Football Hall of Fame Induction Dinner - 7pm Dinner (Cocktails 6pm) Friday, June 23rd.

The American Football Association is proud to present the names of those who will be enshrined into the AFA Semi-Pro/Minor League Football Hall of Fame as the "Class of 2017" (names in parentheses indicate sponsors of the new inductees): 

Coaches Category: 
Larry Stith – Hampton, VA (Dale Glossenger) 

International Category: 
Tim Beasley – Knoxville, TN (Donita Hines)

 Media/Historian Category: 
John Phillips – Kent, WA (Bill Alexander)

Officials Category: 
Dale Wotherspoon – Rotterdam Junction, NY (Bill Higgins)

Player Category: 
Raymond Almeida, Jr. – Ashland, MA (Jay McGee)
Robert Beckwith – Charlestown, MA (Larry DeVoe)
Michael Bridges – Richmond, VA (Hal Lockhart)
Brian Carder – Chicago, IL (Tom Hawkins) 
Mike Carnevale – Troy, NY (Tom Manny)
Tom Fischer – Monroe, WA (Wes Fischer)
Scott Ford – Brownville, NY (George Ashcraft)
Robert Hunt – Detroit, MI (Norris Jackson)
Dale Ilko – Akron, OH (Don Kempf, Paul Takach, John Tichy)
Carl Majer – Berwick, PA (Alan “Butch” Keller)
Thomas Miniscalco – Addison, IL (Simeon Hendrickson, Ron Hansen, Roman Strzala)
Russ Simoncelli – Besenville, IL (Charlie Bliss)
Maceo Tillman – Plainfield, IL (Jack Ball)
Rudy Vido – Albany, NY (Mike Galeo)
Earnest Williams – Chicago, IL (Thomas Robinson)

The enshrinement of this year's class of 19 new hall of famers will see the association’s 37-year total number of inductees expand from 742 members to 761 members. Since the inaugural enshrinement in 1981 (including the Class of 2017) the AFA has recognized 458 players; 108 coaches; 87 executives; 32 officials; 25 pioneers; 21 media/historians; 13 trainer/equipment men; 6 associated with youth football; 6 involved with international semi-pro; 4 from the women's level; and even 1 'super fan'.  

Tickets are $100 each for the 2017 AFA Semi Pro/Minor League Football Hall of Fame Induction Dinner. If interested in ordering dinner tickets, please email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an order form or click HoF Dinner Registration. The deadline for ticket orders is June 11th.

As part of our event fundraiser, we are soliciting sponsors/donors. Sponsors and donors will be acknowledged during our live hall of fame webcast, receive a listing in our souvenir program and will be posted on our event banner. To support this event, please click any of the links below: 
Induction Dinner Program Sponsor
Induction Dinner Program Ad
Sponsorship Form
Crowdfunding Campaign
AFA Hall of Fame Online Auction Fund Raiser


2016 Media Archives:
2016 Hall of Fame Photos
AFA Hall of Fame 2016 Video

 

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