Shrine Bowl Alumni Association
Calling all alumni! Plan to be with us Saturday, August 3 for the 60th Annual “Diamond Jubilee” Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. It will be a special day and a special game and all alumni are invited to return.
Just like the 50th, alumni will march in the pre game parade and will be recognized at half time.
The parade is scheduled for 12 noon and kick-off of the football game will be at 5:30. It will be the first-ever evening game!
If you played, coached, or have been a part of this game in any way and are not hearing from us on a regular basis, please contact us to make sure we have your correct address.
Just like the 50th, alumni will march in the pre game parade and will be recognized at half time.
The parade is scheduled for 12 noon and kick-off of the football game will be at 5:30. It will be the first-ever evening game!
If you played, coached, or have been a part of this game in any way and are not hearing from us on a regular basis, please contact us to make sure we have your correct address.
Our "fezzes" are tipped to a very special alumnus
He played in the 1981 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl after graduating from Manchester Central High School. He went on to earn a BA from UNH where he also played football.
Following graduation from UNH he served as an assistant coach at Columbia, John Hopkins and UNH before being named Offensive Coordinator at the University of Oregon in 2007. In 2009 he was named Head Coach of the Oregon Ducks where he compiled a record of 46-7 in four seasons. In 2010 he was named Coach of the Year.
Yes, we're talking about Charles "Chip" Kelly who earlier this year was named Head Coach of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Our fezzes are off to you, Chip. You have made us proud!
Following graduation from UNH he served as an assistant coach at Columbia, John Hopkins and UNH before being named Offensive Coordinator at the University of Oregon in 2007. In 2009 he was named Head Coach of the Oregon Ducks where he compiled a record of 46-7 in four seasons. In 2010 he was named Coach of the Year.
Yes, we're talking about Charles "Chip" Kelly who earlier this year was named Head Coach of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Our fezzes are off to you, Chip. You have made us proud!
Three Generations of Shrine Football Players
When the two Shrine teams came together for their annual dinner on April 6, three generations of one family were represented. Daniel Nyhan played in 1958 from St. John HS; his son Daniel "Chip" Nyhan played in 1984 from Bishop Brady and grandson Graham Nyhan from Laconia will represent the family in this year's Bowl Game. This was a New Hampshire Shrine Game first!
Background on the Alumni Association
On August 8, 1980, on the eve of the 27th Annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Game., the Alumni Association was formed to:
1. Serve as Area Chairman for advertising and ticket sales in communities where there are no active Shriners and/or assist Shriners who work in these areas.
2. Participate on Game Day as ticket takers, ticket sellers, and ushers or on stadium security.
3. Help with promotion of the game through the distribution of posters and through contact with the media.
4. Help with the Annual Shrine Bowl Golf Tournament held the week before the football game.
In 1980 it was also voted that dues should be collected in order to help defray the cost of mailings. Dues are presently $3.00.
1. Serve as Area Chairman for advertising and ticket sales in communities where there are no active Shriners and/or assist Shriners who work in these areas.
2. Participate on Game Day as ticket takers, ticket sellers, and ushers or on stadium security.
3. Help with promotion of the game through the distribution of posters and through contact with the media.
4. Help with the Annual Shrine Bowl Golf Tournament held the week before the football game.
In 1980 it was also voted that dues should be collected in order to help defray the cost of mailings. Dues are presently $3.00.
As a former participant, with an understanding of what the game means, if you would like to help in any of the above areas, we urge you to contact us.
The current President of the Alumni Association is Richard (Rick) Williams. Rick is a graduate of Trinity High School in Manchester, played in the 1979 Bowl Game, graduated from Yale in 1983 where he played football. He is now a Managing Partner with WestView Capital Partners in Boston.
Letter from Association President Rick Williams
Dear Shrine Game Alumnus:
I want to reach out to you regarding this year’s Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl football game, which is now two months away. This letter will provide details on the game and some important items for alumni.
The 2013 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Game will be held on Saturday, August 3 at Dartmouth’s Memorial Field. As a change, this year’s game will start at 5:30pm providing an evening version of the event.
This year is the 60th edition of the game and as a result, a special anniversary. Details include:
If you would like to participate in the Bowl Game’s Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, July 29 at Crown Point C.C. in Springfield, VT contact the office at shrine.game@myfairpoint.net.
Our fundraising is currently running ahead of last year’s pace for alumni donations. Please consider making a donation of $30 or more, although donations of any amount will be gladly accepted. As I have mentioned in prior correspondence, as our alumni base has grown, we have become a very important part of the game and its cause. Alumni donations last year were a significant portion of total proceeds raised by the game. Many of you have made contributions in the past and I strongly encourage you to continue to do so now and in the future. Remember, our donations help support the Shriners hospitals, which provide free care to children with burn and orthopedic injuries.
As former participants, we all had the opportunity to contribute to the Shrine game and its great cause. As alumni, I hope each of you can find a way to continue to help. I look forward to seeing you at the game.
Sincerely, Rick Williams
I want to reach out to you regarding this year’s Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl football game, which is now two months away. This letter will provide details on the game and some important items for alumni.
The 2013 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Game will be held on Saturday, August 3 at Dartmouth’s Memorial Field. As a change, this year’s game will start at 5:30pm providing an evening version of the event.
This year is the 60th edition of the game and as a result, a special anniversary. Details include:
- The game will kick off at 5:30 pm, with the parade in Hanover starting at 12:00 noon.
- We will have a tent for alumni at the game which will be inside the stadium. As always, I encourage you to stop by the alumni tent.
- This year will mark the 60th anniversary of the first Shrine game in 1954, the 50th anniversary of the 1963 game, the 40th anniversary of the 1973 game, the 25th anniversary of the 1988 game and the 10th anniversary of the 2003 game. We will honor alumni from the 1954, 1963, 1973, 1988 and 2003 games by announcing the names of those present at halftime.
- All alumni are being invited to march in the pre-game parade this year just as we did at the 50th.
If you would like to participate in the Bowl Game’s Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, July 29 at Crown Point C.C. in Springfield, VT contact the office at shrine.game@myfairpoint.net.
Our fundraising is currently running ahead of last year’s pace for alumni donations. Please consider making a donation of $30 or more, although donations of any amount will be gladly accepted. As I have mentioned in prior correspondence, as our alumni base has grown, we have become a very important part of the game and its cause. Alumni donations last year were a significant portion of total proceeds raised by the game. Many of you have made contributions in the past and I strongly encourage you to continue to do so now and in the future. Remember, our donations help support the Shriners hospitals, which provide free care to children with burn and orthopedic injuries.
As former participants, we all had the opportunity to contribute to the Shrine game and its great cause. As alumni, I hope each of you can find a way to continue to help. I look forward to seeing you at the game.
Sincerely, Rick Williams
Alumni Memories
For 60 years the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl has been a summer tradition for New Hampshire and Vermont sports fans. For the 4,200 men who have participated in the game as players, coaches and officials, it has been an athletic event filled with memories that have lasted a lifetime.
It has been the coming together and bonding with teammates who were once opponents. It’s the smile of a small child in which the real meaning of Shrine Football is learned and lives are changed forever. It is the fulfillment of a dream for every high school football player in New Hampshire and Vermont. As one player has said, “The final score was not as important, as the cause for which we were playing.”
Where are those Shrine Bowl alumni today and what are their memories? That is a story worth telling.
It has been the coming together and bonding with teammates who were once opponents. It’s the smile of a small child in which the real meaning of Shrine Football is learned and lives are changed forever. It is the fulfillment of a dream for every high school football player in New Hampshire and Vermont. As one player has said, “The final score was not as important, as the cause for which we were playing.”
Where are those Shrine Bowl alumni today and what are their memories? That is a story worth telling.
Harold Eddy (Rutland, 1984, Paul Smith College)
works for the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City as a pastry cook. He makes desserts for four casinos and has been working for the same company for16 years.
“The game was great; the players, coaches, the staff and all the people at the college (PSU). Every morning we had conditioning drills to the tunes of Huey Lewis. We went to Boston to see the kids in the Shriand they were excited to see us. We knew that we were playing for a great cause! The game itself was huge. I had never played in front of a crowd that big. We held our own for much of the game but in the end we lost. I met a lot of great people and have a lot of good memories of that week.”
“The game was great; the players, coaches, the staff and all the people at the college (PSU). Every morning we had conditioning drills to the tunes of Huey Lewis. We went to Boston to see the kids in the Shriand they were excited to see us. We knew that we were playing for a great cause! The game itself was huge. I had never played in front of a crowd that big. We held our own for much of the game but in the end we lost. I met a lot of great people and have a lot of good memories of that week.”
Burton MacArthur (Exeter, 1965, Harvard University.
Burton is Vice President of ABS Consulting in Seabrook, New Hampshire. The consulting is in the area of reliability and maintenance management. Until recently he was part owner of Genesis Solutions, a small consulting company that was acquired by ABS in 2012.
“There are two things I remember about my Maple Sugar Bowl experience.
One was the camaraderie of the players and coaches as we prepared for the game; great people, good time. Second and more powerful was visiting with the children at the Shrine hospital in Springfield, which sticks in my memory like very little else. Anytime it seems I am having a difficult day I think back on the courage of those kids.
“I do remember, actually I cannot seem to forget, that guy from Vermont catching
a pass over my head. Man was he fast.”
“There are two things I remember about my Maple Sugar Bowl experience.
One was the camaraderie of the players and coaches as we prepared for the game; great people, good time. Second and more powerful was visiting with the children at the Shrine hospital in Springfield, which sticks in my memory like very little else. Anytime it seems I am having a difficult day I think back on the courage of those kids.
“I do remember, actually I cannot seem to forget, that guy from Vermont catching
a pass over my head. Man was he fast.”
Robert Farnham (Brattleboro, 1967, Williams College),
After graduating from Williams College in 1971 where he played football all four years he spent the next two years traveling the world with a backpack and two other Williams graduates, one of whom was John McGill, the other co-captain of the Shrine team in 1967.
His career in finance began in NYC in 1974 and the vast part of it engaged in institutional asset management. He is currently a Global Analyst and partner at Rogge Global Partners, a London-based institutional asset management firm with over $45 billion of assets under management.
“What is distinct for me regarding the '67 game is the terrific camaraderie
those two weeks of training provided with my fellow Vermont teammates. When
John McGill and I get together, we often recall individuals, vignettes
occurring during the summer camp and the wealth of our Vermont High School
experiences.
“Of course, there are few occasions that can match the day at the Shriner's Hospital for providing a little perspective on life's misfortunes and fortunes while humbling the individual. Although our visit with the young patients seems a distant memory it somehow resides within my mind as a
powerful moment when concern for others easily overrode what I was currently thinking. Perhaps this is what should result from the Game: thinking of someone beyond one's self. “
His career in finance began in NYC in 1974 and the vast part of it engaged in institutional asset management. He is currently a Global Analyst and partner at Rogge Global Partners, a London-based institutional asset management firm with over $45 billion of assets under management.
“What is distinct for me regarding the '67 game is the terrific camaraderie
those two weeks of training provided with my fellow Vermont teammates. When
John McGill and I get together, we often recall individuals, vignettes
occurring during the summer camp and the wealth of our Vermont High School
experiences.
“Of course, there are few occasions that can match the day at the Shriner's Hospital for providing a little perspective on life's misfortunes and fortunes while humbling the individual. Although our visit with the young patients seems a distant memory it somehow resides within my mind as a
powerful moment when concern for others easily overrode what I was currently thinking. Perhaps this is what should result from the Game: thinking of someone beyond one's self. “
Dwight Pfundstein (Bishop Brady, 1975, University of New Hampshire)
Dwight went to UNH on a football scholarship, graduated in 1979. Today he lives on Cape Cod, is married with one son and is an Application Development Manager at I.F.A. W., based in Yarmouth Port, Mass. He stays in shape competing in triathlons, and has qualified for the Age Group National Championships the past two years.
“My recollection of our game in 1975 was that Vermont controlled the line of scrimmage, and won the game "in the trenches". That left little room for our running backs (me for instance) or the passing game.
It was great to play at Dartmouth.”
“My recollection of our game in 1975 was that Vermont controlled the line of scrimmage, and won the game "in the trenches". That left little room for our running backs (me for instance) or the passing game.
It was great to play at Dartmouth.”
Chris Crombi ( Somersworth HS, 1992, University of New Hampshire)
Chris is Vice President of Global Sales Operations for Ektron in Nashua, NH. Ektron is a Content Management Company with over 300 employees and the Global Sales Operations manages 60 Sales Representatives in four countries. Chris has helped grow Ektron from 7 million to almost 60 million in the past four years.
“I fondly remember meeting the children who were recovering at the Shriners Hospital. That is something that stays with you throughout your whole life. I think it was at that moment that I realized that the actual football game was just a small piece of why we were there. It was much bigger than two teams competing against each other. It was about raising a lot of money for a fantastic cause and helping out kids that depend on our efforts. I always tell people to get up and visit those kids. It changes your perspective on life and makes you appreciate things a little more. The entire two weeks were about camaraderie and making new friends with guys you competed against. Ultimately, it was about winning a game, but you had a sense that unless you came together as team, the odds of winning were slim. My teammates and coaches were phenomenal and we had assembled some of the best talent ever for a Shriners game. Although we had been victorious, we all knew that in the end, it wasn't about us. It was about all the good we had hopefully accomplished for the kids of the Shriners Hospital. That is what I remember most.”
“I fondly remember meeting the children who were recovering at the Shriners Hospital. That is something that stays with you throughout your whole life. I think it was at that moment that I realized that the actual football game was just a small piece of why we were there. It was much bigger than two teams competing against each other. It was about raising a lot of money for a fantastic cause and helping out kids that depend on our efforts. I always tell people to get up and visit those kids. It changes your perspective on life and makes you appreciate things a little more. The entire two weeks were about camaraderie and making new friends with guys you competed against. Ultimately, it was about winning a game, but you had a sense that unless you came together as team, the odds of winning were slim. My teammates and coaches were phenomenal and we had assembled some of the best talent ever for a Shriners game. Although we had been victorious, we all knew that in the end, it wasn't about us. It was about all the good we had hopefully accomplished for the kids of the Shriners Hospital. That is what I remember most.”
Jeff Taft-Dick (Springfield HS, 1969, Grinnel College)
Jeff entered the Peace Corps right after graduating from college and served for 3 years in the West-African country of Mali. During his third year, he was approached by international officers of the UN WFP who were looking for someone to open a small up-country sub office in Mopti, Mali. He was eventually recruited and offered an 18 month contract after which he assumed he would return to the U.S. and pursue other vocations. However, eight country postings in Africa and Asia and 31 years later, it was finally July 2009 when he returned to Vermont and retired and pursued other hobbies.
“ Regarding memories of our 1969 game, I remember the strong camaraderie among our team’s players, developed over a short 2-week period together. We slept in bunk beds set up on the floor of the Middlebury H.S. gym and spent 24/7 on football.
“A highlight during that period was our team’s trip to the Shrine hospital in Montreal and our meeting the young kids/patients there. It made clear to us the real reason for being a part of this great game.
“In the game itself, NH’s strong ground game wore us down and the running of Steve Shubert, who scored three times, was too much and we lost, 38-20. However, while the loss was disappointing, I realized that the children in the Shrine hospitals would be the real winners in the long term.”
“ Regarding memories of our 1969 game, I remember the strong camaraderie among our team’s players, developed over a short 2-week period together. We slept in bunk beds set up on the floor of the Middlebury H.S. gym and spent 24/7 on football.
“A highlight during that period was our team’s trip to the Shrine hospital in Montreal and our meeting the young kids/patients there. It made clear to us the real reason for being a part of this great game.
“In the game itself, NH’s strong ground game wore us down and the running of Steve Shubert, who scored three times, was too much and we lost, 38-20. However, while the loss was disappointing, I realized that the children in the Shrine hospitals would be the real winners in the long term.”
Jim McKinnon (Mt, St. Joseph HS, 1962, University of Vermont)
Jim spent twenty-five years with the Calgary (Canada) Catholic School System. He initially taught Phys. Ed in junior high and then moved to high school and taught Business Education. He coached football, basketball, and track. He was head coach for one City Football Championship in Calgary and an assistant for eight others.
His main activity now is alpine skiing. He races in the Senior (55 plus) circuit in Alberta. He also plays golf and look forwards to playing in the Shrine Bowl tournament this year.
“My favorite memory of the visit to the Shrine Hospital were the smiles on the children faces and their optimism despite their illnesses and injuries.”
Andy Martin (Nashua, 1985, Northeastern University)
Andy is Director of Sales for the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. He manages a team of sales executives responsible for selling premium Ghirardelli Chocolate to national retail accounts and regional specialty chains. He lives in Boston with my wife Ana and two wonderful daughters.
“I recall arriving at UNH to train for the Shrine Game with a high level of anxiety.
I would be spending the next two weeks with fellows I had battled on the football field since junior high. I was uncertain how it would be, but it was great. I remember developing good relationships with the coaching staff from Portsmouth HS.
I especially remember the trip to the Shriner's Hospital. The game took on a whole new meaning after meeting the kids. Previously I had just thought of it as an all-star game for which I was lucky to have been selected. After meeting the kids, I truly understood how the game and Shriners were all a part of a greater mission and it was truly an honor to have been selected to represent New Hampshire and the Shriners."
“I recall arriving at UNH to train for the Shrine Game with a high level of anxiety.
I would be spending the next two weeks with fellows I had battled on the football field since junior high. I was uncertain how it would be, but it was great. I remember developing good relationships with the coaching staff from Portsmouth HS.
I especially remember the trip to the Shriner's Hospital. The game took on a whole new meaning after meeting the kids. Previously I had just thought of it as an all-star game for which I was lucky to have been selected. After meeting the kids, I truly understood how the game and Shriners were all a part of a greater mission and it was truly an honor to have been selected to represent New Hampshire and the Shriners."
A.J. Garron (Manchester West, 2007, University of New Hampshire)
A. J. works for Dyn here in New Hampshire, which is a DNS and Email company which deals with about 40% of the Internets traffic. He works with companies like Twitter, Mashable, Zappos, and thousands and thousands more trying to build relationships and spread the good word of Dyn
“As for the memories of the game, how could I forget the hottest day of my life. It was 107 on the turf but I wouldn't have it any other way, It was a super close game with us coming through with a field goal to win it. Both teams fought hard and it was one of the best football games I have ever been a part of. I was glad to be able to contribute with a touchdown and a few receptions and tackles. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys and a better outcome.”
“As for the memories of the game, how could I forget the hottest day of my life. It was 107 on the turf but I wouldn't have it any other way, It was a super close game with us coming through with a field goal to win it. Both teams fought hard and it was one of the best football games I have ever been a part of. I was glad to be able to contribute with a touchdown and a few receptions and tackles. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys and a better outcome.”