Published:
CANTON, OH (September 5, 2012) – The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame have named two long-time community volunteers to leadership positions for the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. Vicky Sterling, vice president of sales and marketing for Pinnacle Press, Inc., will serve as general vice chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. And for the third consecutive year, Guy Ruda, sales associate for R. Z. Marketing Group, will serve as general vice chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sterling just completed 18 years of service in various leadership capacities on the Ribs Burnoff Committee, most recently as chairman in 2011 and 2012. A graduate of Louisville High School, she also served on the security committees for the Balloon Classic and Enshrinement Ceremony Committees. A past member of the board of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, she is a past recipient of the Chamber’s Community Salute Award of Merit, and also a recipient of the Canton Advertising Federation’s Ad Person of the Year Silver Medal Award. She also extends her time and resources to the Aultman Health Foundation and Aultman Women’s Board, Canton Blues Festival, J.R. Coleman Women in History Luncheon and Ladies Auxiliary Post 7490. The mother of two, Sterling is married to Todd and has four grandchildren. During the 2012 Enshrinement Festival, while serving in the leadership role as general vice chairman, Ruda also completed his 12th year as chairman of the Enshrinement Committee, and he will serve in that dual capacity again in 2013. He previously served 18 years as a member of the committee, as well as three years as chairman of the former NFL Experience Committee. Ruda and his wife Gail are the proud parents of David and Danielle.

ABOUT THE ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL & 50TH ANNIVERSARY

While nearly 21,000 men have played in at least one National Football League game, there are only 273 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; this number will be increased by not more than seven and not fewer than four when the Class of 2013 is announced Feb. 2 during Super Bowl weekend. The central focus and highlight of the festivities will be the induction ceremony for the Class of 2013 Enshrinees, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 3, at Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium. Added excitement and activities will abound in 2013 as both organizations work collaboratively to celebrate 50 years of success since the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened its doors on Sept. 7, 1963, and the first Enshrinement Festival events were held that year. Since then, more than nine million fans have visited the Hall, which over the years expanded from its original 19,000 square feet to 85,000 square feet. It is now in its second and final phase of the $27 million “Future 50” Expansion and Renovation Project that will be completed in time for the 50th Anniversary in 2013, expanding the Hall to 118,000 square feet and setting the museum on course for the future. Likewise, the annual Enshrinement Festival has expanded from its original four small events to 19 diverse events over a two and a half week period, enjoyed by nearly 700,000 people and producing an economic impact of over $31 million for the Canton/Stark County area and nearly $56 million for the State of Ohio. In addition, millions of people experience aspects of the Enshrinement Festival as events are televised and covered by other media. With a record of success for the past 49 years, the Enshrinement Festival has earned its reputation as “A One of a Kind Celebration!” Check the Web sites periodically for the latest information: www.profootballhofef.com or www.profootballhof.com.

###