Vivian Scherf-Laabs, 80, of Cedarburg, Wis., was named the 16th member of the Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame on Wednesday at Lambeau Field.
A lifelong Cedarburg resident, Scherf-Laabs was selected by fans from 10 finalists during a voting period that ran from Jan. 1-31. More than 20,000 votes were cast from throughout the United States and countries around the world.
Scherf-Laabs was nominated by her twin brother Stewart Scherf, who said that Scherf-Laabs has gone to several games at both Milwaukee County Stadium and Lambeau Field, and can remember attending games back when tickets were only $10 and programs were 50 cents.
Boasting a large collection of Packers memorabilia, Scherf-Laabs has many autographed pictures of Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Paul Hornung and others from that era. Her collection also includes memorabilia from the Packers past appearances at Super Bowls.
An excerpt of Scherf's nomination letter for Scherf-Laabs reads:
"Vivian and her friend, Jan, flew out from Milwaukee on Jan. 12, 1968, in a freezing rain and snow mix, with the plane having to be de-iced before takeoff. She was headed to Super Bowl II on Jan. 14, 1968, in Miami, Fla. She witnessed a historic game, as the Packers won 33-14 over the Oakland Raiders, Bart Starr was named MVP and completed 13 of 24 passes for 202 yards, and it was Vince Lombardi's last game as the Packers' coach. She remembers that tickets were only $12 and the program was $1. She still has both, and a T-shirt from the game."
According to her brother, she is extremely proud of the personal connection she shares with one of the team's legends, Bart Starr, as she and her twin were born on the same day as the former Packers quarterback and coach.
This year's other finalists included: Greg Marnocha, Seymour, Wis.; Sherry Kelly, Rancho Cordova, Calif.; Jim Pogodzinski, Abbottsford, Wis.; Phil Jolly, Spartanburg, S.C..; George Oudhuis, Rolling Prairie, Ind.; Audrey Bimbaum, Atlanta, Ga.; Joan Haydon-Hampton, Germantown, Wis.; Gerard Hannaford, Paradise, Newfoundland, Canada; and Michael McMullen, Allouez, Wis.
Scherf-Laabs will receive four club seats to a 2014 Packers home game; a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate; a road trip for two to a 2014 Packers away game, including game tickets, air fare and hotel accommodations; and a one-year subscription to Packers Plus.
The honoree also will have her name permanently displayed in a place of honor in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
The Green Bay Packers established the Packers FAN Hall of Fame in 1998 for the purpose of annually honoring a devout and longtime Packers fan.
The 15 prior honorees include Mel Knoke, Appleton, Wis.; Louis Gardipee, Black River Falls, Wis.; Ed Jablonski, Wausau, Wis.; Paul Mazzoleni, Green Bay; Wanda Boggs, Brookfield, Wis.; Sister Isaac Jogues Rousseau, Milwaukee; Dorothy Hanke, Milwaukee; Kathy Lazzaro, Milwaukee; Rich Barbera, River Vale, N.J.; Richard 'Ike' Eisenhauer, Wauwatosa, Wis.; Allan Hale, Green Bay; Jim Becker, Racine, Wis.; Tom Little, Mount Sterling, Ill; Rick Steele, Greensburg, Pa; and Edward Fritsch, Sheboygan, Wis.
FAN Hall of Fame sponsors are Verlo Matress Factory, Associated Bank and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
