The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. will recognize two special award winners at this year's Packers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, set for Thursday, July 30, in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
In addition to inducting former Packers cornerback Tramon Williams and former offensive lineman Earl Dotson, the event will also pay special tribute to the recipients of the Bob Harlan Leadership Award, presented by Miller Lite and the Bart and the Cherry Starr Recognition Award, presented by Nicolet National Bank.
The Bob Harlan Leadership Award is presented in honor of former Green Bay Packers President/CEO and Packers Hall of Famer Bob Harlan, who demonstrated exceptional and extraordinary leadership throughout his career with the Packers. Recipients demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities, over and above the call of duty during or after their career or association with the Packers. Above all, they must have served with the integrity, character and determination emblematic of Harlan.
This year's Bob Harlan Leadership Award recipient is Tom Lovat, who spent eight seasons of his 24-year NFL career with the Packers. Lovat served two separate coaching stints in Green Bay and was first hired by former Packers head coach Bart Starr in 1980 to fill the assistant offensive line coach role in Green Bay, a position he held for the 1980 season before taking his talents to the now-Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts for six and four years, respectively, from 1981-91. Lovat's return to the Packers came in 1992 when he rejoined under then-head coach Mike Holmgren as an offensive line coach. His return to Green Bay saw Lovat build the Packers' offensive line into a cohesive unit of physical enforcers that protected the likes of future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre and paved the way to consecutive NFC Championship wins and a Super Bowl XXXI victory in 1997. Before retiring in 2003, Lovat spent his final four years with Holmgren and the Seattle Seahawks, serving as the organization's offensive line coach.
The Bart and Cherry Starr Recognition Award recognizes a person who has exemplified outstanding character and leadership in their field of expertise, while consistently demonstrating a personal conviction and commitment to the Green Bay Packers.
This year's Bart and Cherry Starr Recognition Award recipient is James Van Matre, who served the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. in a variety of capacities over the years. A combat veteran of the Vietnam War in the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment from 1968-69, he was recruited by Bill Brault to join the Green Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau in 1975. He served as Director of Tourism, as well as Director of Operations and Development for the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, until 1996, playing a key role in promoting Green Bay as a premier vacation destination. One of his major initiatives during this time was the development of a new Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Museum. Van Matre went on to serve as Secretary of the Hall of Fame in the early years after incorporation and helped create the famous "Packer Receiver" statue, which was located initially in the entrance area of the then-Hall of Fame Museum on Lombardi Avenue. The statue has since been updated and is now located at the corner of Donald Driver Way and Dousman Street in Green Bay, adjacent to the Chicago & North Western Depot site on the Packers Heritage Trail, serving as a significant landmark in the Green Bay area.
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. is a nonprofit corporation independent of the Green Bay Packers that guides the Hall as a historic national sports venue and educational resource to the Green Bay community and the state of Wisconsin. The Hall raises funds through its annual Induction Banquet, Golf Classic and other events to preserve the history of the Green Bay Packers and expand its archives. Historic memorabilia donated by individuals to the Hall may qualify as tax-deductible gifts.
Originally established in 1967 as a temporary display in the concourse of the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena, the Packers Hall of Fame moved into its own facility in 1976 near Lambeau Field. In 2003, it was relocated to the lower level of the Lambeau Field Atrium. After renovations beginning in 2013, it reopened in August of 2015 and is now located on the main floor of the Atrium across from 1919 Kitchen & Tap. Additional information including tour details can be found online at packershofandtours.com. Limited tickets to the July banquet are available and those interested should contact Sam Kluck at (920) 965-6984.
