Press Release
For inquiries call the Lou Holtz Hall of Fame at 330-386-5443EAST LIVERPOOL – Notre Dame's new head football coach Brian Kelly will be the guest speaker when the next class of inductees is welcomed into the Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame on Thursday, July 1, at the Serbian American Cultural Center in Weirton.
Kelly, former coach at the University of Cincinnati, announced in December 2009 he had accepted Notre Dame's offer to replace Coach Charlie Weis. He knows he has his work cut out for him. "We stink right now," Kelly remarked of the team following a practice session earlier this week. His remarks are sure to be of great interest to the dinner crowd.
This year's class of inductees includes Larry Bruno, longtime Beaver Falls High School football coach; East Liverpool businessman Jack Hill of Hill International Trucks; Marc D. Hoffrichter, D.D.S., East Liverpool investment counselor and former dentist; and former Wellsville Mayor Nunzio Lombardozzi. Toledo's Mike Wilcox, Chairman and CEO of Wilcox Financial & Wilcox Sports Management is to be inducted as this year’s Distinguished American.
The Heritage Family Award will be presented to the Bruney Family of Martin's Ferry. Dave Bruney is the current football coach at the school, and through the years more than 30 members of the family have played for Martin’s Ferry, with a number of them going on to notable achievements at the college level as well.
The dinner, as always, will be highlighted by remarks from East Liverpool's native son Coach Holtz himself.
Tickets for the annual fundraiser, priced at $60 each, are available through the Hall of Fame. Of that price, $30 is tax deductible.
The buffet meal will include roast sirloin of beef, stuffed cabbage rolls, baked scrod, garden salad, cole slaw, cucumber salad, parslied redskin potatoes, cabbage and noodles, green beans almondine, corn O'Brian, hearth-baked bread with whipped butter and triple chocolate fudge cake. Beverages included are coffee, hot tea and iced tea. Doors open at 5 p.m., and a cash bar is available from 5 to 7 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
Although the event is typically held on a weekend, the date was moved back in order not to interfere with events at the various all-school reunions being held through the Tri-State Area that weekend. No VIP event in the Hall will be held this year due to the dinner and ceremony being held in Weirton.
A silent auction and live auction will be held, and entertainment will feature the world-famous harmonica playing Sgro Brothers, who were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Hall of Fame, located at 120 E. 5th St., East Liverpool, Ohio, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Those with questions about the event or the Hall may call 330-386-5443.