Voting opened Friday, Nov. 19, to select the seventh member of the Packers FAN Hall of Fame.
Last month, Packers fans were asked to nominate themselves or a friend for the honor with an essay of 500 words or less, accompanied by a photo, telling why they should be recognized. From those nominations 10 finalists were selected by the Packers FAN Hall of Fame selection committee, comprised of members of the Packers front office and the Packers Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
This year's 10 finalists for the honor are:
- Dan Behnke, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
- Charles Brown, Milwaukee.
- Rev. Gilbert Hagin, Marietta, S.C.
- Dorothy Hanke, Milwaukee.
- Tom Hoglen, Trenton, N.J.
- Ted Kosmo, Arcadia, Wis.
- Larry Primeau, De Pere, Wis.
- Patti Schultz, West Bend, Wis.
- Mike Seavert, New Berlin, Wis.
- Dr. Jeffery Smith, Alma, Mich.
Now it's once again up to the fans, who can read the finalists' profiles and vote online. The nominee receiving the most votes will be named the seventh member of the Packers FAN Hall of Fame.
Fans can vote by logging on to www.packers.com, the official Web site of the Green Bay Packers. Click here to read about the 10 finalists and make your selection.
The Green Bay Packers, the first professional football team to have its own hall of fame, enhanced that distinction in 1998 by establishing a Packers FAN Hall of Fame for the purpose of annually honoring a devout and longtime Packers fan.
The late Mel Knoke of Appleton was chosen as the inaugural enshrinee in the FAN Hall of Fame. The 91-year-old Knoke, who died between the time of his election and enshrinement, was honored posthumously at the 1999 Packers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, held March 6.
Louis Gardipee of Black River Falls, Wis., Ed Jablonski of Wausau, Wis., Paul Mazzoleni of Green Bay, Wanda Boggs of Brookfield, Wis., and Sister Isaac Jogues Rousseau of Milwaukee were the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth honorees, respectively.
This year's winner will be announced Dec. 17, 2004. He or she will receive four club seats to a Packers home game - at which he or she will be recognized on the Lambeau Field TundraVision - a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate and a road trip for two to a 2005 Packers away game, including game ticket, air fare and hotel accommodation.
The honoree also will be introduced during the Packers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet in July, 2005, and have his or her name permanently displayed in a place of honor in the Packers Hall of Fame.
FAN Hall of Fame sponsors are ShopKo, Stein Gardens and Gifts, Best Buy and Bielinski Builders.
Members of the media wishing further information on the voting process for the Packers FAN Hall of Fame may contact Shea Greil of the Green Bay Packers' marketing department at (920) 569-7242.
