Valley chapter of National Football Foundation elects first woman president
by Jim Crawford

PHOENIX – Valley restauranteur and civic leader Janie Riddle has been elected president of the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.

Riddle, chief executive officer and co‑owner of Valle Luna Mexican Restaurants, has served as director and senior vice‑president of the chapter. She has also served in various capacities on numerous nonprofit and charitable boards throughout the Valley.

“My husband Bill was on the board first,” Riddle said. “We got involved with the foundation in 1992. We do a lot of things together. We were the first man and wife team to receive the foundation’s Leadership Award in the western United States. We’re calling it a family tradition.”

The main thrust of the foundation is to raise funds for high school and college athletic scholarships.

“Each year coaches nominate scholar athletes from about 150 schools,” Riddle said. “They are judged by their community involvement, their involvement in their church and demonstrated leadership qualities on and off the field.

“This year we awarded scholarships to students from 91 high schools and six colleges.”

For the past two years, the NFF has also awarded band and spirit scholarships to deserving students.

“We are now awarding scholarships to band members and cheerleaders,” Riddle said. “Sometimes they are the unsung heroes.”

Riddle related that her first date with Bill was to an Arizona State University football game.

“It was against the University of Houston,” she recalled. “We are Sun Devils and Cardinal fans all the way. I’m elated to have been elected president of the chapter. I’m extremely excited about the future. I really love football. I guess you could say I’m doing it for the love of the game.

“It’s a great organization. We’re always looking for new people to step up and volunteer their time to the foundation. I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be working alongside (former ASU coach) Frank Kush. He’s just awesome to work with.”

The NFF was founded in 1947 by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, sportswriter Grantland Rice and Army football coach Earl Blaik. The organization is dedicated to highlighting amateur football’s positive role in the development of America’s youth.

Riddle is only the second woman president among the 119 chapters in the United States, said Dan Manucci, executive director of the Valley of the Sun Chapter.

“She’s a great woman and a huge lift for our chapter,” Manucci said. “She’s got great ideas. She’s very progressive and very good at enhancing ideas we already have in place.”

The chapter takes an active role in advocating the selection of former area players and coaches to the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

Among those selected are former ASU coaches Dan Devine and Frank Kush; former ASU players Danny White, Mike Haynes, Ron Pritchard and John Jefferson; and former University of Arizona player Ricky Hunley.

Founded in 1971, the chapter has honored more than 500 young men and awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships, chapter information states.

Former ASU and Cardinals star Pat Tillman was among those honored.

Each year the chapter presents the Frank Kush Award to the state’s best offensive lineman and the Curly Culp Award to the state’s best defensive lineman.

“We need to continue and expand on our past successes and ultimately make our chapter a role model for all other chapters in the nation,” Riddle said.

Manucci credits Riddle’s public experience as a major asset in her new role.

“She’s a past board member of the Fiesta Bowl committee,” Manucci said. “She and Bill have run Valle Luna for years. She knows and understands football. She’s got great compassion and heart. It’s really good to get the female perspective instead of all the testosterone. Sometimes all the guys see is the trees in the forest. Women can see the path out of the forest.”