Ohio Wesleyan senior Chad Williams (Sunbury/Big Walnut) was honored by the Columbus chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame at the chapter's annual Scholar-Athlete awards banquet on Monday in Columbus.
Williams, an offensive guard for the Battling Bishops, was recognized as one of 7 college football scholar-athletes in the Central Ohio area, based on excellence in athletics and academics. Schools represented at the event included Capital, Denison, Kenyon, Ohio Dominican, Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan, and Otterbein.
Williams also was recognized as the top scholar-athlete from among the 7 college athletes honored. He will receive a postgraduate scholarship from the Columbus chapter of the National Football Foundation and plans a career in teaching and coaching football.
Williams is the third Ohio Wesleyan player to be honored as a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete. Phil Roos was feted in 1959, and Barry Furst was honored in 1967.
Former Ohio State gridiron great John Hicks received the Ohio Gold Award from the Columbus chapter and spoke about the value of athletics, education, and community involvement. Former recipients of the Ohio Gold Award include Eddie George, Archie Griffin, Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce, John Cooper and Jim Tressel.
The annual High School Coaches Award was presented to Randy Baughman from Licking Valley High School, where he has coached for 30 years. He was recognized by the Columbus chapter for excellence in coaching and leading young men.
The Tyson Gentry Courage Award was presented to Richard L. “Dick” Smith, who was a founding member of the Columbus Chapter of the NFF and CHoF. Smith has also served as the President of the Buckeye Boosters for more than 30 years. Tyson Gentry was on hand to present the award. The award was started in 2009 in Gentry’s name for his remarkable efforts to remain an integral part of the Ohio State family after suffering a career-ending spinal cord injury.
The NFF and CHoF is a member-supported, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of amateur football at local, state and national levels. The Foundation with its chapters annually awards nearly $1 million in scholarships to over 3,000 high school and college student-athletes for continuing education.
