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Congratulations! Haydocy

ESPN personality entertains at 84 annual event

By Kimberly Gasuras • Telegraph-Forum • October 2, 2009

BUCYRUS -- The 84th annual Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce Dinner provided a feel-good moment during a troubled economic time in Crawford Country.  More than 175 people attended Thursday night's event at the Crawford County Fairgrounds.  "The dinner is a great opportunity for people to get together who are interested in the well-being of the community and who want to be supportive of the community," First Federal Community Bank Senior Vice President Jeff Urban said. "It's always a really nice event."

Arvine Kindinger, who was filming the event for the Chamber, was excited about the guest speaker. Crestline native Mike Gottfried, a former ESPN college football analyst, returned to his roots for the event.  "Mike Gottfried is a great guy. He was my neighbor growing up in Crestline," Kindinger said. "His parents, Fritz and Curly, were the nicest people you could ever meet."  Gottfried also spent 12 years as a college football coach, making stops at Murray State, Cincinnati, Kansas and Pittsburgh. He joined ESPN in 1990 as a college football analyst.

Gottfried formed the organization Team Focus in 2000 with his wife, Micki. It's a personal project for a man who lost his father at age 11. The project is a cost-free community outreach program aimed at boys without fathers.  Gottfried's autobiography, "Coach's Challenge: Faith, Football, and Filling the Father Gap," was released in 2007.  Gottfried also spoke Wednesday at Bucyrus High School.  "It is an honor for me to back here in the area I grew up in. I was blessed to grow up in the best of times and now we are in very challenging times," Gottfried said. "We need to keep our faith and focus on teamwork in getting through."

The 2009 Chamber awards were handed out by Deb Pinion, director of the Chamber.  "Our 2009 Volunteer of the Year serves on many boards and give 150 percent on to every one of them," Pinion said of Marilyn Strang, president of the Bucyrus Area United Way and Bucyrus YMCA boards.  Roger Pinion also was named a volunteer of the year.  "Roger is always doing something for someone else," Deb Pinion said.

Organization of the Year was awarded to the Bucyrus Preservation Society and their spinoff organization, the Bucyrus Station Association, for their work on the renovation of the Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad Depot on East Rensselaer Street. 

The Business of the Year award went to Haydocy Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Inc.