Chapter Three
"The Autumn Wind..."
In August 2005, Jerry stepped down as president, and Ron Rickard (Raider Ron) [Class of 2001] was elected the 3rd President of PFUFA. He served for only one year (2005). His Officers were:
Vice President - Tim McKernan (Barrel Man) [Class of 1999]
Treasurer - Joanie DeKoker (Best Bills Fan) [Class of 2003]
Secretary - Gene Boldman (Bengal Gene) [Class of 2001]
When Ron was elected, there was no Class of 2005 honorees to the Hall of Fans, and the organization suddenly did not have prospects for new membership. Most of the membership did not learn of this news until the reunion in August 2005, and they demanded that PFUFA find a new sponsor for the Hall of Fans. This issue, however, was far beyond our reach and was not attainable. The Hall of Fans display, however, did remain in the Hall for many years to come, and it was finally removed and replaced with the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Room in 2013. Some of our members still have artifacts on display in the Hall, but the majority of items have been retired to the archives.
PFUFA had suddenly and un-expectantly arrived at a plateau in growth. Current membership hovered for a year and then began to decline. Without an influx of new honorees to the Hall of Fans, PFUFA had no choice but to reach out to the former members and Visa honorees that chose not to join. The outreach had minimal affect and by 2007, PFUFA had reached its lowest count in active membership.
To compound the current situation for Ron’s term, early in 2006, the Hall of Fame changed its weekend event schedule and gave our organization little time to prepare for it. The Hall of Fame Game was moved from Monday night to Sunday night, and Hall of Fame Enshrinement for players from Sunday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. [In 2007, the Enshrinement was further moved to Saturday night.] These changes dramatically impacted the organization’s schedule, and PFUFA was forced to adjust.
In August 2006, due to the schedule changes, PFUFA was not able to hold its annual charity event at the J Babe Stern Center, and the membership was outraged. A motion was placed on the floor during the business meeting, and it passed quick as lightning. PFUFA would be required to hold an annual charity event.
Though Ron only served as president for one year, he was able to accomplish many key milestones. He initiated the PFUFA awards system. Now an annual event, members are recommended for and awarded: the Jason “Beardown J” Carlson “Courage Award” or the Tommy Nola “Bellringer Friendship Award" or the Presidential Award (which is actually named after the first three presidents). It is the "4 Star - True Blue - Arrow Award" (Presidents Choice Award). (Pictured right is Stephanie Phillips receiving the "Bellringer Friendship Award" in 2011.)
In 2013, the Officers and the Board of Directors added a fourth award to honor the Hogettes and millions of dollars they have raised for charity. It is called the "Golden Hog Award."
This video is from the 2004 Charity Event at the J. Babe Center in Canton, OH, and features the Hogettes.
Also in 2006, the first official PFUFA Ring was designed, created, and presented to the membership by Ron and Sergeant Colt as pictured to the right. This ring was actually Hardcore's ring and was presented to his widow at the 2006 Annual PFUFA Reunion.
Though the PFUFA Awards and Official Ring are good, the most important event of Ron’s term was dealing with the tragic and untimely death of Daniel Sachar (Hardcore) [Class of 2004] in an automobile accident in San Jose, CA. The organization was shocked to learn of the passing of our member, and due to this, Ron and Sergeant Colt created the PFUFA Ring of Honor. Shortly after the creation of the Ring, Jason Carlson (BeardownJ) [Class of 2003] also passed due to complications of juvenile diabetic and being a multiple organ transplant recipient.
How fitting is it then that in 2016, Ron Rickard (Raider Ron) [Class of 2001] was inducted into the PFUFA Ring of Honor. Along with Daniel, the "
..."