In Memory

We will remember always our Colleagues, who in passing have touched us all. They are greatly missed.

Farewell to our Friend

Edward "Ed" Velten

1931-2005

          To help all of us cope with the passing of our fellow chapter member and talented friend Edward "Ed" Velten all we need to do is read the dates on his tombstone, from the beginning to the end, 1931 – 2005. What mattered most is the dash between the years. For that dash represents the time that he spent alive on earth touching so many lives,

           Ed was one of the most valuable members of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter and was one of the founding fathers of our chapter in 1991. He was by far one of the areas most passionate promoters of the game of football. He will be greatly missed by the St. Louis football community but most of all by our Chapter. With the passing of Ed our Chapter has lost a part of its heart and soul. No words can be written that could describe Ed’s value to the Chapter. His was always there with his energetic, enthusiastic personality helping with any project that was under taken.

          A native of St. Louis, Ed turned down professional baseball offers to attend the University of Missouri at Columbia, where he played baseball and football and earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education.

          Ed was a first lieutenant in the Army artillery. He played service baseball at Fort Carson, Colo., and semipro baseball for Goodland, Kan., and the Billy Martin All Stars. Later, he served as a baseball scout for the Cardinals and the New York Mets.

         He was the head coach at Ladue from 1960 to 1982, and had a career highlighted by a record 145 wins, with 43 losses and four ties. His teams won 12 conference championships, including six Suburban South Conference championships in a row from 1972 to 1977. In that same time period, his teams also qualified for the state playoffs for four consecutive years, 1974 to 1977. He helped 20 of his players to earn major college football scholarships and 15 of them earn small college scholarships. One of the players he coached at Ladue was Andy Russell, a fullback who played at the University of Missouri at Columbia and went on to become an All-Pro for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.

          He also served as the head baseball coach, swim team coach and the physical education instructor. After his retirement from football, he returned to coach the Ladue girls’ tennis team as it won five consecutive Missouri Class 4A state championships, from 1988 to 1992.

           In 1996, he once more left retirement to serve a four-year stint as assistant football coach at Kirkwood High School.

          Ed was named a Hall of Fame football coach by the Missouri State Football Coaches Association.

         Throughout his career, Ed was involved in Mizzou football and football Cardinals broadcasting. He co-hosted a sports talk show on KMOX Radio with Globe-Democrat Sports Editor Bob Burnes from 1963 to 1969 and served as a football color commentator for Warner-Amex Cable TV in the early 1980s.

          Our loss is great but Ed's wife Betty has lost her partner. We know her life will never be the same. To Betty and Ed's family we send our deepest sympathy.

        Ed we will miss you, but you will always be in our thoughts and prayers. We are grateful to have been part of the dash.

BOB BROEG

1918-2005

ROBERT W. BROEG died Friday October 10, 2005 at the age of 89. He was an active member of the St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter attending monthly luncheons and Scholar-Athletes Banquets. The Bob Broeg Award - Media Award for Enthusiasm, Integrity, Professionalism, and Devotion to the Game of Football is given in his honor each year at our annual banquet.

       Bob was born in St. Louis Missouri. He joined the newspaper after serving with the Marines in World War II, and took on his dream job of writing baseball. He was sports editor and columnist, boss, mentor and raconteur, a dapper man in a bow tie who had a kind word or two, or two thousand, for everyone he met.

       He loved history and books, trains and nicknames. He loved the Marine Corps, the St. Louis Cardinals and the University of Missouri. He loved his birth place St. Louis; its people, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter and everyone loved and cherished him in return.
        Our deepest sympathy goes out to the all of Bob's family. Bob Broeg was so many things to so many people; He will be profoundly missed by all he touched and will remain in our thoughts and prayers

Gene Pepper

Jan. 16, 2006

The St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter conveys our deepest sympathy to the family of Eugene Francis Pepper Sr. Gene passed away Monday January 16, 2006. He was a most valued member of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter and will be greatly missed by his many friends.

JACK SNOW

1943-2006

The St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter conveys our deepest sympathy to the family of Jack Snow former Rams standout wide receiver and radio analyst broadcaster who passed away Monday January 9 2005. Jack had been part of the Rams virtually since being drafted out of Notre Dame in 1965. He spent 11 years as a player with the team when it was in Los Angeles, retiring in 1975. Jack will remain in our thoughts and prayers, will be profoundly missed, and will be remembered always.

James "Jim" Williams III

1949-2009

Jim Williams, who led the St. Charles High School varsity football team to a state championship in 1982, died Saturday January 31, 2009 at the age of 60. Jim spent 33 years as a teacher and coach. He was an active member of the St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter attending monthly luncheons and Scholar-Athletes Banquets.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to all of Jim’s family. He will be profoundly missed by all he touched and will remain in our thoughts and prayers

BOB "BEAR" CHRISTIAN

1935-2009

The St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter conveys our deepest sympathy to the family of Bob Christian. Bob passed away Friday June 12, 2009. He was a most valued member of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter and will be greatly missed by his many friends.

Bob coached football, baseball, taught government and typing and was athletic director at De Smet from 1970 to 1974. In 1975 his football team won the Bi-State championship and he was named Coach of the Year. He was inducted into De Smet's Hall of Fame in 2005. He also was inducted into the Metro St. Louis High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009 and in 2006 was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.