Arnold Dean Receives St. Francis Award at Sports Banquet

June 6, 2001. Meriden, CT

Arnold Dean, known as the "Dean of Sports" of WTIC-1080, Hartford, received the St. Francis Award of the Franciscan Life Center at the center's 16th Annual Sports Banquet held at the Aqua Turf Club on June 5, 2001. Mr. Dean, well known in Connecticut for his sportscasting, was lauded for his professional dedication and his exemplary Christian values. Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Executive Director of the Franciscan Life Center, presented the award.

Honored guests included Bowie Kuhn, former Major League Baseball Commissioner; Johnny Eagan, Providence College basketball star and former NBA player and coach of the Houston Rockets; and Chris Godfrey, former New York Giants player and founder and president of Life Athletes.

Each of the honored guests spoke of their efforts to give back to the community and to promote the dignity of life. Johnny Eagan encouraged the audience of over 300 people to take time each week to do something for others. He volunteers his time each Monday in Houston to deliver meals-on-wheels. Chris Godfrey spoke of his work in Life Athletes, an organization he founded for athletes to promote positive values of life and respect for life in our country. Bowie Kuhn praised the work of the Franciscan Sisters and their contribution to society in forming a "culture of life."

Al Terzi of Channel 3 News and Tony Terzi of Fox 61 were emcees for the event.