The DC Touchdown Club, earlier known as The Touchdown Club of Washington, D.C., was started in 1935 with a passion for charity and sports. In the ensuing years the Club has benefited many local charities as well as providing scholarships to deserving student/athletes. The Touchdown Timmies, the club's trophies, are given each year to athletes who excelled in their respective arenas including professionals, college and scholastic players. Additionally, the Club provided monies to 15 charitable organizations each year.
At one point, the name was changed to "Touchdown Club Charities of Washington, DC". It was founded by a group of college football enthusiasts in 1935, among them Dutch Bergman. The motto is "Children, Scholarship, and Community".
The Timmie Awards began with a formal dinner at the Willard Hotel in 1937 where All-American Quarterback Marshall Goldberg was honored as Best Player of the Year. Over the past sixty years, the club's dinner awards programs honoring of more than 200 outstanding college players and hundreds of professional high school athletes, have attracted celebrities from many fields and national media attention.
Arthur "Dutch" Bergman was a back with George Gipp on the Notre Dame teams of the 1920s. He was later assistant football coach at the University of Minnesota and the University of New Mexico, and head coach at Catholic University, winning their first Orange Bowl in 1936, and head coach of the Eastern Division titlist Washington Redskins of 1943. Dutch was also an Army flyer in World War I, a mining engineer, a top-level Government official, a sports writer, a broadcaster and, finally, manager of the D.C. Armory and RFK Stadium.
The "Timmie Awards" are the name given to the awards that the club awarded beginning in 1946. In addition to an NFL Player of the Year, they also award a Coach of the Year and administered the Washington Redskins team awards, among others. The club was the first to award a "MVP" award to a defensive player, Gene Brito, in 1955. The Philadelphia Maxwell Club awarded a similar honor to Andy Robustelli in 1962.
<small>As voted on by the DC Touchdown Club</small><br /> 1944âÂÂRoy Zimmerman, Philadelphia Eagles<br /> 1945âÂÂBob Waterfield, Cleveland Rams <br /> 1946âÂÂBill Dudley, Pittsburgh Steelers <br /> 1947âÂÂSammy Baugh, Washington Redskins <br /> 1948âÂÂSammy Baugh (2), Washington Redskins <br /> 1949âÂÂSteve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles; Otto Graham, Cleveland Browns <br /> 1950âÂÂBob Waterfield, Los Angeles Rams <br /> 1951âÂÂOtto Graham, Cleveland Browns <br /> 1952âÂÂLynn Chandnois, Pittsburgh Steelers <br /> 1953âÂÂLou Groza, Cleveland Browns <br /> 1954âÂÂNorm Van Brocklin, Los Angeles Rams<br /> 1955âÂÂGene Brito, Washington Redskins <br /> 1956âÂÂFrank Gifford, New York Giants <br /> 1957âÂÂJohnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts <br /> 1958âÂÂJohnny Unitas (2), Baltimore Colts and Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns<br /> 1959âÂÂCharley Conerly, New York Giants <br /> 1960âÂÂNorm Van Brocklin (2), Philadelphia Eagles <br /> 1961âÂÂPaul Hornung, Green Bay Packers <br /> 1962âÂÂY. A. Tittle, New York Giants<br /> 1963âÂÂJim Brown (2), Cleveland Browns<br /> 1964âÂÂLenny Moore, Baltimore Colts<br /> 1965âÂÂPete Retzlaff, Philadelphia Eagles <br /> 1966âÂÂJim Nance, Boston Patriots, (AFL); Sonny Jurgensen, Washington Redskins, (NFL)<br /> 1967âÂÂLance Alworth, San Diego Chargers, (AFL); Johnny Unitas (3), Baltimore Colts, (NFL)<br /> 1968âÂÂDaryle Lamonica, Oakland Raiders, (AFL); Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packers, (NFL)<br /> 1969âÂÂLance Alworth (2), San Diego Chargers, (AFL); Sonny Jurgensen (2), Washington Redskins, (NFL)<br /> 1970âÂÂFran Tarkenton, New York Giants<br /> 1971âÂÂBilly Kilmer, Washington Redskins; Jack Pardee, Washington Redskins<br /> 1972âÂÂLarry Brown, Washington Redskins<br /> 1973âÂÂO. J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills<br /> 1974âÂÂJoe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers <br /> 1975âÂÂFran Tarkenton (2), Minnesota Vikings <br /> 1976âÂÂRoger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys (NFC); Bert Jones, Baltimore Colts (AFC)<br /> 1977âÂÂWalter Payton, Chicago Bears, (NFC); Craig Morton, Denver Broncos, (AFC)<br /> 1978âÂÂPat Haden, Los Angeles Rams, (NFC); Jim Zorn, Seattle Seahawks, (AFC)<br /> 1979âÂÂJoe Theismann, Washington Redskins (NFC); Dan Fouts, San Diego Chargers (AFC)<br /> 1980âÂÂSteve Bartkowski, Atlanta Falcons (NFC); Brian Sipe, Cleveland Browns (AFC)<br /> 1981âÂÂTony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys (NFC); Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals (AFC)<br /> 1982âÂÂMark Moseley, Washington Redskins (NFC); Dan Fouts (2); San Diego Chargers (AFC)<br /> 1983âÂÂEric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams (NFC); Curt Warner, Seattle Seahawks (AFC)<br /> 1984âÂÂEric Dickerson (2), Los Angeles Rams (NFC); Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins <br /> 1985âÂÂWalter Payton (2), Chicago Bears (NFC); Ken O'Brien, New York Jets (AFC) <br /> 1986âÂÂLawrence Taylor, New York Giants (NFC); Al Toon, New York Jets (AFC)<br /> 1987âÂÂJoe Montana, San Francisco 49ers (NFC); John Elway, Denver Broncos (AFC) <br /> 1988âÂÂRoger Craig, San Francisco 49ers (NFC); Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals (AFC) <br /> 1989âÂÂJoe Montana (2), San Francisco 49ers (NFC); Christian Okoye, Kansas City Chiefs (AFC) <br /> 1990âÂÂBarry Sanders, Detroit Lions (NFC); Jim Kelly, Buffalo Bills (AFC) <br /> 1991âÂÂMark Rypien, Washington Redskins (NFC); Thurman Thomas, Buffalo Bills (AFC) <br /> 1992âÂÂSteve Young, San Francisco (NFC); Barry Foster, Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC) <br /> 1993âÂÂMark Stepnoski, Dallas Cowboys (NFC); Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC) <br /> 1994âÂÂSteve Young, San Francisco 49ers (NFC); Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers (AFC) <br /> 1995âÂÂBrett Favre, Green Bay Packers (NFC); Steve Bono, Kansas City Chiefs (AFC) <br /> 1996âÂÂKevin Greene, Carolina Panthers (NFC); Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills (AFC) <br /> 1997âÂÂBrett Favre (2), Green Bay Packers (NFC); Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos (AFC) <br /> 1998âÂÂRandall Cunningham, Minnesota Vikings (NFC); Terrell Davis (2), Denver Broncos (AFC) <br /> 1999âÂÂKurt Warner, St. Louis Rams (NFC); Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (AFC) <br /> 2000âÂÂMarshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams (NFC); Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders(AFC) <br /> 2001âÂÂKurt Warner (2), St. Louis Rams (NFC); Rich Gannon (2), Oakland Raiders (AFC) <br /> 2002âÂÂBrett Favre (3), Green Bay Packers (NFC); Rich Gannon (3), Oakland Raiders (AFC) <br /> 2003âÂÂRandy Moss, Minnesota Vikings (NFC); Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (AFC) <br /> 2004âÂÂDonovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles (NFC); Peyton Manning (2), Indianapolis Colts (AFC) <br /> 2005âÂÂShaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks (NFC); Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals (AFC) <br /> 2006âÂÂDrew Brees, New Orleans Saints (NFC); LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers (AFC)<br /> 2007âÂÂBrett Favre (4), Green Bay Packers (NFC); Tom Brady, New England Patriots (AFC)<br /> 2008âÂÂKurt Warner (3), Arizona Cardinals (NFC); Peyton Manning (3), Indianapolis Colts (AFC)<br /> 2009âÂÂBrett Favre (5), Minnesota Vikings (NFC); Peyton Manning (4), Indianapolis Colts (AFC)
<small>Presented annually by the DC Touchdown Club to the collegiate lineman of the year</small><br /> 1939âÂÂKen Kavanaugh, E, LSU<br /> 1940âÂÂBob Suffridge, G, Tennessee<br /> 1941âÂÂEndicott Peabody, G, Harvard<br> 1942âÂÂBob Dove, E, Notre Dame<br> 1943âÂÂCas Myslinski, C, Army<br> 1944âÂÂDon Whitmire, T, Navy<br /> 1945âÂÂDick Duden, E, Navy<br> 1946âÂÂBurr Baldwin, E, UCLA<br> 1947âÂÂChuck Bednarik, C, Pennsylvania<br> 1948âÂÂBill Fischer, G, Notre Dame<br> 1949âÂÂLeon Hart, E, Notre Dame<br> 1950âÂÂBud McFadin, G, Texas<br> 1951âÂÂBob Ward, G, Maryland<br> 1952âÂÂDick Modzelewski, T, Maryland<br> 1953âÂÂStan Jones, T, Maryland<br> 1954âÂÂMax Boydston, E, Oklahoma<br> 1955âÂÂBob Pellegrini, C, Maryland<br> 1956âÂÂJerry Tubbs, C, Oklahoma<br> 1957âÂÂLou Michaels, T, Kentucky<br> 1958âÂÂBob Novogratz, G, Army<br> 1959âÂÂRoger Davis, G, Syracuse<br> 1960âÂÂTom Brown, G, Minnesota<br> 1961âÂÂJoe Romig, G, Colorado<br> 1962âÂÂPat Richter, E, Wisconsin<br> 1963âÂÂDick Butkus, C, Illinois<br> 1964âÂÂDick Butkus, C, Illinois<br> 1965âÂÂTommy Nobis, G, Texas<br> 1966âÂÂJim Lynch, DE, Notre Dame<br> 1967âÂÂRon Yary, T, Southern California<br /> 1968âÂÂTed Hendricks, DE, Miami<br> 1969âÂÂMike Reid, T, Penn State<br /> 1970âÂÂJim Stillwagon, T, Ohio State<br /> 1971âÂÂLarry Jacobson, DT, Nebraska<br> 1972âÂÂJohn Hannah, OG, Alabama<br> 1973âÂÂEd "Too Tall" Jones, DE, Tennessee State<br> 1974âÂÂRandy White, DE, Maryland<br> 1975âÂÂLee Roy Selmon, DE, Oklahoma<br> 1976âÂÂWilson Whitley, DT, Houston<br> 1977âÂÂKen MacAfee, TE, Notre Dame<br> 1978âÂÂGreg Roberts, OG, Oklahoma<br> 1979âÂÂBruce Clark, DE, Penn State<br> 1980âÂÂHugh Green, DE, Pittsburgh<br> 1981âÂÂKenneth Sims, DE, Texas<br> 1982âÂÂBilly Ray Smith Jr., DE, Arkansas<br> 1983âÂÂBill Fralic, OT, Pittsburgh<br> 1984âÂÂBruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech<br> 1985âÂÂTony Casillas, DT, Oklahoma<br> 1986âÂÂGordon Lockbaum, RB, Holy Cross<br> 1987âÂÂChad Hennings, DT, Air Force<br> 1988âÂÂTracy Rocker, DT, Auburn<br> 1989âÂÂChris Zorich, DT, Notre Dame<br> 1990âÂÂChris Zorich, DT, Notre Dame<br> 1992âÂÂEric Curry, DE, Alabama<br> 1993âÂÂAaron Taylor, OT, Notre Dame<br> 1994âÂÂRuben Brown, OG, Pittsburgh<br> 1995âÂÂNebraska offensive line<br> 1996âÂÂOrlando Pace, OT, Ohio State
Since 1937, presented annually by the DC Touchdown Club to the collegiate back of the year
1939âÂÂNile Kinnick, HB, Iowa<br /> 1946âÂÂCharley Trippi, HB, Georgia<br> 1954âÂÂRalph Guglielmi, QB, Notre Dame<br> 1959âÂÂBilly Cannon, HB, LSU<br /> 1961âÂÂErnie Davis, HB, Syracuse<br /> 1962âÂÂJerry Stovall, HB, LSU<br> 1963âÂÂRoger Staubach, QB, Navy<br /> 1966âÂÂSteve Spurrier, QB, Florida<br /> 1968âÂÂO. J. Simpson, RB, USC<br> 1969âÂÂArchie Manning, QB, Ole Miss
Touchdown Club Charities hosts its own Football Hall of Fame. Starting in 2000, the Club has decided to expand its Hall of Fame selection process to include the American public at large. The top 10 nominees will be presented to the public for election. The top five will be elected and inducted into the Hall of Fame at a date subsequent to the election.
Distinguished individuals in the DC Touchdown Club Hall of Fame are players such as âÂÂDutchâ Bergman, George Preston Marshall, Knute Rockne, Bronko Nagurski, Jim Thorpe, Bobby Mitchell, Sammy Baugh, Walter Camp, Sonny Jurgenson, Red Grange and Johnny Unitas that are in the Hall of Fame. More recent inductees include Gene Upshaw and Larry Brown.