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.

Touchdown Club Founder

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.

NFL Player of the Year awards

As voted on by the DC Touchdown Club 1944—Roy Zimmerman, Philadelphia Eagles 1945—Bob Waterfield, Cleveland Rams 1946—Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh Steelers 1947—Sammy Baugh, Washington Redskins 1948—Sammy Baugh (2), Washington Redskins 1949—Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles; Otto Graham, Cleveland Browns 1950—Bob Waterfield, Los Angeles Rams 1951—Otto Graham, Cleveland Browns 1952—Lynn Chandnois, Pittsburgh Steelers 1953—Lou Groza, Cleveland Browns 1954—Norm Van Brocklin, Los Angeles Rams 1955—Gene Brito, Washington Redskins 1956—Frank Gifford, New York Giants 1957—Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts 1958—Johnny Unitas (2), Baltimore Colts and Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns 1959—Charley Conerly, New York Giants 1960—Norm Van Brocklin (2), Philadelphia Eagles 1961—Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers 1962—Y. A. Tittle, New York Giants 1963—Jim Brown (2), Cleveland Browns 1964—Lenny Moore, Baltimore Colts 1965—Pete Retzlaff, Philadelphia Eagles 1966—Jim Nance, Boston Patriots, (AFL); Sonny Jurgensen, Washington Redskins, (NFL) 1967—Lance Alworth, San Diego Chargers, (AFL); Johnny Unitas (3), Baltimore Colts, (NFL) 1968—Daryle Lamonica, Oakland Raiders, (AFL); Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packers, (NFL) 1969—Lance Alworth (2), San Diego Chargers, (AFL); Sonny Jurgensen (2), Washington Redskins, (NFL) 1970—Fran Tarkenton, New York Giants 1971—Billy Kilmer, Washington Redskins; Jack Pardee, Washington Redskins 1972—Larry Brown, Washington Redskins 1973—O. J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills 1974—Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers 1975—Fran Tarkenton (2), Minnesota Vikings 1976—Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys (NFC); Bert Jones, Baltimore Colts (AFC) 1977—Walter Payton, Chicago Bears, (NFC); Craig Morton, Denver Broncos, (AFC) 1978—Pat Haden, Los Angeles Rams, (NFC); Jim Zorn, Seattle Seahawks, (AFC) 1979—Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins (NFC); Dan Fouts, San Diego Chargers (AFC) 1980—Steve Bartkowski, Atlanta Falcons (NFC); Brian Sipe, Cleveland Browns (AFC) 1981—Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys (NFC); Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals (AFC) 1982—Mark Moseley, Washington Redskins (NFC); Dan Fouts (2); San Diego Chargers (AFC) 1983—Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams (NFC); Curt Warner, Seattle Seahawks (AFC) 1984—Eric Dickerson (2), Los Angeles Rams (NFC); Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins 1985—Walter Payton (2), Chicago Bears (NFC); Ken O'Brien, New York Jets (AFC) 1986—Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants (NFC); Al Toon, New York Jets (AFC) 1987—Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers (NFC); John Elway, Denver Broncos (AFC) 1988—Roger Craig, San Francisco 49ers (NFC); Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals (AFC) 1989—Joe Montana (2), San Francisco 49ers (NFC); Christian Okoye, Kansas City Chiefs (AFC) 1990—Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions (NFC); Jim Kelly, Buffalo Bills (AFC) 1991—Mark Rypien, Washington Redskins (NFC); Thurman Thomas, Buffalo Bills (AFC) 1992—Steve Young, San Francisco (NFC); Barry Foster, Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC) 1993—Mark Stepnoski, Dallas Cowboys (NFC); Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC) 1994—Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers (NFC); Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers (AFC) 1995—Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers (NFC); Steve Bono, Kansas City Chiefs (AFC) 1996—Kevin Greene, Carolina Panthers (NFC); Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills (AFC) 1997—Brett Favre (2), Green Bay Packers (NFC); Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos (AFC) 1998—Randall Cunningham, Minnesota Vikings (NFC); Terrell Davis (2), Denver Broncos (AFC) 1999—Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams (NFC); Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (AFC) 2000—Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams (NFC); Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders(AFC) 2001—Kurt Warner (2), St. Louis Rams (NFC); Rich Gannon (2), Oakland Raiders (AFC) 2002—Brett Favre (3), Green Bay Packers (NFC); Rich Gannon (3), Oakland Raiders (AFC) 2003—Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings (NFC); Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (AFC) 2004—Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles (NFC); Peyton Manning (2), Indianapolis Colts (AFC) 2005—Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks (NFC); Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals (AFC) 2006—Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (NFC); LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers (AFC) 2007—Brett Favre (4), Green Bay Packers (NFC); Tom Brady, New England Patriots (AFC) 2008—Kurt Warner (3), Arizona Cardinals (NFC); Peyton Manning (3), Indianapolis Colts (AFC) 2009—Brett Favre (5), Minnesota Vikings (NFC); Peyton Manning (4), Indianapolis Colts (AFC)

Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy

Presented annually by the DC Touchdown Club to the collegiate lineman of the year 1939—Ken Kavanaugh, E, LSU 1940—Bob Suffridge, G, Tennessee 1941—Endicott Peabody, G, Harvard 1942—Bob Dove, E, Notre Dame 1943—Cas Myslinski, C, Army 1944—Don Whitmire, T, Navy 1945—Dick Duden, E, Navy 1946—Burr Baldwin, E, UCLA 1947—Chuck Bednarik, C, Pennsylvania 1948—Bill Fischer, G, Notre Dame 1949—Leon Hart, E, Notre Dame 1950—Bud McFadin, G, Texas 1951—Bob Ward, G, Maryland 1952—Dick Modzelewski, T, Maryland 1953—Stan Jones, T, Maryland 1954—Max Boydston, E, Oklahoma 1955—Bob Pellegrini, C, Maryland 1956—Jerry Tubbs, C, Oklahoma 1957—Lou Michaels, T, Kentucky 1958—Bob Novogratz, G, Army 1959—Roger Davis, G, Syracuse 1960—Tom Brown, G, Minnesota 1961—Joe Romig, G, Colorado 1962—Pat Richter, E, Wisconsin 1963—Dick Butkus, C, Illinois 1964—Dick Butkus, C, Illinois 1965—Tommy Nobis, G, Texas 1966—Jim Lynch, DE, Notre Dame 1967—Ron Yary, T, Southern California 1968—Ted Hendricks, DE, Miami 1969—Mike Reid, T, Penn State 1970—Jim Stillwagon, T, Ohio State 1971—Larry Jacobson, DT, Nebraska 1972—John Hannah, OG, Alabama 1973—Ed "Too Tall" Jones, DE, Tennessee State 1974—Randy White, DE, Maryland 1975—Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Oklahoma 1976—Wilson Whitley, DT, Houston 1977—Ken MacAfee, TE, Notre Dame 1978—Greg Roberts, OG, Oklahoma 1979—Bruce Clark, DE, Penn State 1980—Hugh Green, DE, Pittsburgh 1981—Kenneth Sims, DE, Texas 1982—Billy Ray Smith Jr., DE, Arkansas 1983—Bill Fralic, OT, Pittsburgh 1984—Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech 1985—Tony Casillas, DT, Oklahoma 1986—Gordon Lockbaum, RB, Holy Cross 1987—Chad Hennings, DT, Air Force 1988—Tracy Rocker, DT, Auburn 1989—Chris Zorich, DT, Notre Dame 1990—Chris Zorich, DT, Notre Dame 1992—Eric Curry, DE, Alabama 1993—Aaron Taylor, OT, Notre Dame 1994—Ruben Brown, OG, Pittsburgh 1995—Nebraska offensive line 1996—Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State

Walter Camp Memorial Trophy

Since 1937, presented annually by the DC Touchdown Club to the collegiate back of the year 1939—Nile Kinnick, HB, Iowa 1946—Charley Trippi, HB, Georgia 1954—Ralph Guglielmi, QB, Notre Dame 1959—Billy Cannon, HB, LSU 1961—Ernie Davis, HB, Syracuse 1962—Jerry Stovall, HB, LSU 1963—Roger Staubach, QB, Navy 1966—Steve Spurrier, QB, Florida 1968—O. J. Simpson, RB, USC 1969—Archie Manning, QB, Ole Miss

Touchdown Club Charities Hall of Fame

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 “Dutch” 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.