By Tim McGrath

Dec. 16, 2015:  On Tuesday, November 17, the 72nd Annual Fred H. McGrath Memorial Football Dinner was held at the Bronxville Field Club to honor this year's Bronxville High School varsity football team.

The tradition started back in 1943 when Fred H. McGrath decided to honor that year's team. His sons had all played for the Broncos, and Mr. McGrath had become one of the team's biggest fans. Although he had never played football, he fell in love with the sport because he felt that football, more than other sports, was important in the development of young men and taught them to win graciously and lose with dignity. That 1943 team had not won a game, but Mr. McGrath felt the team should be honored because the members had worked as hard as other, more successful teams had.

Over the past 72 years, the McGrath Dinner has boasted some very prominent speakers, including former Commissioner of Major League Baseball Ford Frick, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell, Super Bowl winner with the Green Bay Packers Bob Hyland, former general manager of the Super Bowl-winning Indianapolis Colts Bill Polian, and former Major League Baseball player Jackie Robinson, as well as numerous college coaches and players.

This year's speaker was Jansen Petagna, the director of football operations for Columbia University. Jansen, a New Orleans native and a 2011 graduate of Louisiana State University, spoke of spending his summers interning for the New Orleans Saints, where he found his calling. He realized he enjoyed the behind-the-scenes aspect of football. He told the members of the varsity team that through perseverance and belief in himself, he was able to follow his dream, which brought him to Columbia University. The evening concluded with Coach Napolitano's announcing the captains for next year's football team, and they are Jack Reilly, Jack Flanagan, and Brian DePaul.

Since Fred H. McGrath's death in 1954, his family has continued the tradition of hosting the varsity football team, school administrators, and present and former coaches. His son, Robert W. McGrath, a former player and coach for the Broncos, his wife, Barbara, and their family have been the catalysts in keeping up this unique dinner.

Pictured here:  Bronco football players.

Photo by S. Quinn DeJoy