1918

The following information is derived from the South Bend Tribune of March 30.

Ed Healey, member of both the college and pro football Halls of Fame, was honored as a distinguished American at the third annual scholar-athlete dinner of the South Bend Chapter of the National Football Foundation recently. Robert Freshley, president of the chapter (largest in Indiana), previously had announced the selection of Healey who has lived in the area for more than 50 years.

"Ed Healey is not only an all-time football great, but he has been a distinguished citizen of Michiana and a great booster of our chapter and the entire Hall of Fame concept."

The date of the dinner was the night before the annual Blue-Gold intrasquad game that closes Notre Dame spring practice.

"We will honor not only Healey: our awards committee is busy making selection of scholar-athletes to be honored this season," said Freshley, who added that the chapter also would cite another football figure for contributions to amateur football.

"We hold our dinner each year on the night before the Blue-Gold game in order to give out-of-town visitors a chance to visit with football enthusiasts of the community and also to meet Hall of Famers here for the game." The scholar-athletes from St. Joseph County high schools will be introduced at half time of the Notre Dame game.

Healey several years ago was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame as a former Dartmouth University star. The National Football League's pro Hall of Fame at Canton, Ohio, also enshrined the former Chicago Bears player, one of the first players in NFL history to be sold from one team to another.

It was while he was starring for the Bears that Healey moved to South Bend. Not only was he a pro player, but he worked as a South Bend businessman and also helped to coach at Notre Dame in the Knute Rockne era. Healey, who has lived more than 40 years at Riverbrook Farm on South River Road, Niles, has been a regular on the Notre Dame scene for more than 50 of his 82 years.

It has become a custom for us, lone and me, to meet the Cort Horrs for lunch from time to time. Recently we improved on this by pulling Ed Healey into the picture. On April 20, the Horrs and Woodruffs trekked some 75 miles east to a well-known establishment called Tinker's Dam. Ed made the 40-mile drive westward to meet us. This mini-pow-wow was a pronounced success, and we hope to repeat it in the future.

We are still "plugging" the post-50th reunion, where we hope to meet a goodly number of '18ers. It has always been a most enjoyable event.

Distinguished American Ed Healey '18

Secretary 1820 Lewis Lane Joliet, Ill. 60432

Head Agent, Lower Troy Road Fitzwilliam, N.H. 03447