“Ring of Honor” Dinner and Awards Ceremony Set for July 13 at Race Brook Country Club
The Walter Camp Football Foundation will recognize host several individuals at its “Ring of Honor” dinner and awards ceremony on Sunday, July 13 at 5 p.m. at Race Brook Country Club in Orange.
Tickets to the July 13 event are $200 each and a table of nine is $1700. Visit https://waltercamp.org/roh-2025-dinner/#get-tickets or contact Ernie Williams at (203) 530-8379 or ErnieW20@comcast.net or Greg Rocchio at (203) 506-4771 (gwrchiro@aol.com).
The Ring of Honor dinner is part of festivities with the organization’s annual “Ring of Honor” Golf Classic which is July 14 also at Race Brook Country Club.
Ring of Honor – George Rogers (South Carolina), Jeff Burris (Notre Dame)
The Ring of Honor recognizes former players, coaches and individuals who have played a significant role in the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s history and tradition.
George Rogers had a noteworthy college career at the University of South Carolina, where he lettered four years. During his sophomore campaign, Rogers rushed for 1,066 yards despite splitting time in the eight games. As a junior in 1979, he ran for 1,681 yards. Rogers came back to solidify his place in college football in 1980 as a senior, when he led the nation with 1,781 rushing yards, earned consensus All-American honors (including Walter Camp) and won the Heisman Trophy.
Rogers was the first overall selection in the 1981 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. In his seven-year career between New Orleans and Washington, he had four 1,000 yard rushing seasons and combined for a career total of 7,176 rushing yards. He retired from professional football following the 1987 season.
The Ring of Honor recognizes former players, coaches and individuals who have played a significant role in the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s history and tradition.
A 1993 Walter Camp All-America defensive back from the University of Notre Dame, Jeff Burris went on the play 10 professional seasons. A first-round selection (27th overall) by the Buffalo Bills in the 1994 draft, Burris spent four seasons with the Bill before moving on to play for the Indianapolis Colts (1998-2002) and two seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals (2002-03). Across his 10-year career, Burris played in 144 games (120 starts) and recorded 529 tackles, 101 passes defensed, 19 interceptions, six forced fumbles, 5.0 sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Currently, Burris is in his first season as the New York Giants’ cornerbacks coach. This is Burris’ second stint in the NFL after working as the assistant defensive backs coach with the Miami Dolphins from 2013-15.
Rogers and Burris join previous Ring of Honor recipients Kellen Winslow, Jimbo Covert, Herschel Walker, Tony Dorsett, Tim Brown, Cornelius Bennett, Hugh Green, Archie Griffin, and Ty Law.
Distinguished American – Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts, accomplished former student-athlete at Southeastern Louisiana, ABC and ESPN media personality, author, and breast-cancer survivor, was the recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s “Distinguished American” Award in 2009.
However, Ms. Roberts could not attend the 2010 National Awards weekend due to work obligations out of the country. Ms. Roberts will be attending the Ring of Honor event to receive her award.
Currently the co-anchor of ABC News’ “Good Morning America” show, Roberts has worked in broadcasting for more than 40 years.
The Walter Camp “Distinguished American” award is presented each year to an individual who has utilized his or her talents to attain great success in business, private life or public service and who may have accomplished that which no other has done. He or she may have a record of dedication to mankind that should not pass unrecognized and a life that has been dedicated to the preservation of the American ideal. The recipient need not have participated in football but must be one who understands its lesson of self-denial, cooperation and teamwork, and one who is a person of honesty, integrity and dedication. He or she must be a leader, an innovator, even a pioneer, who has reached a degree of excellence that distinguishes him or her from contemporaries, as well as someone who lives within the principles of Walter Camp.
Past recipients of the Walter Camp Distinguished American honor include nationally-respected sportscasters Pat Summerall (2004) and Keith Jackson (1995), all-purpose television personality Regis Philbin (2003), NBC Sports Executive Dick Ebersol (1996), former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (1994), world-renowned entertainer Bob Hope (1985), and former college coach Eddie Robinson (1982). Roberts is the second female to be recognized with this prestigious honor. Actress and community activist Susan Saint James was honored in 1991.
Man of Year – John Randle
NFL Hall of Famer John Randle is the Walter Camp Man of the Year.
The Walter Camp “Man of the Year” award honors an individual who has been closely associated with the game of football as a player, coach or close attendant to the game. He must have attained a measure of success and been a leader in his chosen profession. He must have contributed to the public service for the benefit of his community, country and his fellow man. He must have an impeccable reputation for integrity and must be dedicated to our American Heritage and the philosophy of Walter Camp.
Randle came to the NFL in 1990 as an undrafted rookie free agent from Division II Texas A&I.
Randle joins a distinguished list of former “Man of the Year” winners, including Roger Staubach (Navy), Gale Sayers (Kansas), Dick Butkus (Illinois), John Elway (Stanford), Jerome Bettis (Notre Dame), and Curtis Martin (Pittsburgh).
Randle played 14 professional seasons. Randle’s 114.0 career quarterback sacks rank third in Vikings history and rank as the most by a DT. Randle earned starting spots for the NFC in six straight Pro Bowls (1993-98) with the Vikings and went to the Pro Bowl in 2001 as a Seahawk, representing the AFC.
Randle was named to the NFL Team of the Decade for the 1990s. Randle was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his Texas A&I career. The Vikings honored him as the 2008 selection for induction to the Ring of Honor. He received the highest honor of the NFL as part of the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement class.
Champion of Community – Bill O’Brien
Long-time Walter Camp Foundation member and Past President William (Bill) O’Brien is the as the first recipient of the Walter Camp “Champion of Community” award.
Much like Mr. Walter Camp has been labelled as a “Champion of Sport,” the Champion of Community award is presented by the Walter Camp Football Foundation to an individual that has a history of supporting the Foundation’s activities and has gone onto make significant, unique contribution to their community and the greater community which is served by the Foundation.
However, it has been his passion for helping others, and assisting organizations, like the Walter Camp Foundation, to tell their stories and help make things better. His photography talents have captured many thousands of events on the Shoreline and throughout greater New Haven, and graciously donated to area media outlets that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
O’Brien first became involved with the Foundation in 1973, attending the national awards dinner with a friend and then volunteered as treasurer. He served as President of the organization from 1979 to 1981 and has been involved and at the forefront in key Foundation activities since.
For example, in 1988, Bill wrote to then U.S, Congressman Bruce Morrison requesting his assistance to get an official Walter Camp stamp issued. Fifteen years later August 8, 2003, Mr. Camp, Father of American football, was part of the “Early Football Heroes” stamp issuance. And it was Bill stumbling upon Mr. Camp’s grave in the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven in early 1992, and then quickly raising funds to buy a beautifully etched stone that included a short profile of Camp.
His efforts in promoting football led to involvement with the National Football Foundation New Haven County Chapter (which is now named for Bill), and he was among the distinguished officials presiding over the grand opening of the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta in 2017, some five years after serving on the national chapter’s board of directors.
His impact on local sports is also legendary. He was the first Commissioner of the Southern Connecticut Conference from 1994 to 2005, and made it possible for public and parochial schools, both urban and suburban, to compete. The Conference continues to honor him each year with a scholarship in his name awarded to two deserving students who embody the “passion of Bill in their school and surrounding communities.”
Keish Sports Communicator Award – Mark Cohen
Former TCU associate athletic director Mark Cohen will be honored with the Walter Camp Sports Communicator Award.
The Walter Camp Sports Communicator award is named in memory of Bill Keish, who was a longtime Foundation member and chairman of the public relations committee. The award originated as the Foundation’s “Media Appreciation” award. It was awarded to local sports media professionals in recognition of their contributions on behalf of the WCFF. It has recently been expanded to a broader scope, recognizing contributions to sports communications.
Cohen joins former sports communicators Steve Roe (Iowa) and Tim Tessalone (USC) as recipients of the award.
During his time at TCU, Cohen promoted seven football student-athletes that earned Walter Camp All-America honors, including two-time recipient Jerry Hughes (2008 and 2009), and were also recognized with 10 national awards. Cohen received the Scoop Hudgins Outstanding SID Award in 2009 from the All-American Football Foundation.
He was selected to be part of CoSIDA’s first-ever Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program in 2022 and was the recipient of a CoSIDA 25-Year Service Award in 2014.
Honorary Member – Jamie DiLoreto, Boston College
Veteran athletics administrator at Boston College Jamie DiLoreto will be recognized as a Walter Camp Football Foundation Honorary Member at the organization’s Ring of Honor dinner on Sunday, July 13 in Orange, Conn.
Honorary Member designation is bestowed to an individual who has been a supporter of the Walter Camp Foundation and its various activities, initiatives and pursuits.
DiLoreto has worked in the Boston College athletic department since 1993. Currently, DiLoreto serves as BC’s senior associate athletics director – external relations. He oversees all communications, creative services, gameday presentation, marketing and promotions, ticket sales, and ticket operations for athletics. He is a primary contact for corporate sponsorship partnerships with Van Wagner for athletics as well as athletic concessions. DiLoreto is the liaison for the Boston College Varsity Club and the Hall of Fame. He also oversees the Licensing Program for the University. DiLoreto is the program administrator for Men’s and Women’s Skiing and the Spirit Program.
About the Walter Camp Foundation
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
