News

Tallahassee, FL – The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., the Florida based creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award which recognizes America’s outstanding college football receiver, announced the selection of seven new trustees. Foundation Chairman, Walter Manley, II, remarked, “The Foundation has long been served by outstanding Floridians. The new trustees continue that tradition of excellence.”

The new trustees, all residents of Tallahassee, Florida, are expected to enhance the Foundation’s fulfillment of its charitable mission to provide college scholarships to high schools seniors who have overcome significant barriers in their lives to achieve at the highest academic and extra-curricular levels. The Foundation will spend over $200,000 for scholarships next year.

The new trustees have enjoyed highly successful careers and have a long history of service to charitable organizations. Charles Newell, MD, is a partner and ophthalmologist with Southern Vitreoretinal Associates.  Jeff Wahlen is a partner in the Ausley & McMullan law firm and  has served as school board attorney and president of the chamber of commerce.  Dr. Richard Chichetti, a general and cosmetic dentist, is a partner with Chichetti, Torgerson & Hartley.  R.J. “Rocky” Bevis is president of a funeral homes group in North Florida, including Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee, and North Florida Crematory & Capital Monument.  Marc Bauer is managing partner of Hunter & Harp Hospitality, LLC, owner and operator of fine hotels and restaurants.  Scott Houston, of Agrium Corporation, is a noted Florida high school quarterback coach. Finally, Charles Hopkins is  vice president and private financial advisor for SunTrust Investment Services, Inc.

Retiring trustee Dr. Mark Bonn, chairman of the hospitality department at Florida State University, has been named an honorary trustee, in recognition of his 12 years of outstanding service, including a stint as chairman. “Mark has been instrumental in the Foundation’s success and he will continue to support our mission,” noted Chairman Manley.

This year the Foundation provided college scholarships to twelve high school seniors. “We will expand the number of recipients, at least to fifteen next year,” added Foundation Chairman-elect Ritchie Pickron.

The Foundation was formed in 1994 with the able assistance of founding trustees Walter Manley, II, Rocky Bevis, L. Thomas Cox, Jr., and Bob Teel. Last year’s Biletnikoff Award winner, Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State University, marked the 18th year the Foundation has presented the award. A national selection committee of 150 prominent sports journalists, commentators, former winners, and outstanding football receivers selects the Biletnikoff Award winner.

The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the nation’s outstanding college football receiver, (the award defines receiver as any player who catches a pass), by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. (TQCF). The TQC Foundation is an independent, charitable organization that was founded in 1994. Present Chairman and Founding Trustee, Professor Walter W. Manley II, Founding Trustee L. Thomas Cox, Jr., Founding Trustee Rocky Bevis, and Founding Trustee Bob Teel established the award and the TQC Foundation that sponsors it.  Many more have contributed to its development as one of the most prominent awards in college football. The idea of a college receiver’s award was not a novel one, as a number of organizations throughout America considered establishing it; however, the TQC Foundation joined the idea to the organization’s vision and created an outstanding award and dynamic organization. The trophy, presented to each winner, is the most beautiful individual award in college football – it has won several national awards for design excellence and aesthetic appeal.

The Biletnikoff Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, http://www.ncfaa.org.