Charlie Gogolak Receives Prominent Contribution Honor At NFF Awards Dinner

Charlie Gogolak '66, along with his older brother Pete, escaped the Hungarian Revolution and brought a style of placekicking to one of America's greatest passions — college football — that has stood the test of time.

The two brothers were honored Dec. 8 when they received the 2015 NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award at the 58th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City.

First presented in 1974, the NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award provides national recognition to those whose efforts to support the NFF and its goals have been local in nature or who have made significant contributions to the game of football either to the manner in which it is played and coached or to the manner in which it is enjoyed by spectators. The Gogolaks become the 39^th and 40^th recipients of the award.

"It was a thrill to be there and watch Charlie receive this well-deserved award," head coach Bob Surace said. "The NFF Awards Dinner is a great opportunity to celebrate our sport, and Charlie Gogolak deserved to be among the greats we honored because of all he and his brother brought to our sport. Charlie, who remains a passionate supporter of Princeton football, remains one of the greatest kickers in Tiger history, and an important member of our revered 1964 undefeated championship team."

“The Gogolak brothers created a lasting legacy as the pioneers of the modern place-kicking motion, and their impact on the game of football has been felt for more than 50 years,” said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell upon the announcement of the award. “From humble beginnings, the Gogolaks were raised in Budapest, and the family fled the country during the Hungarian Revolution. With no soccer team at their high school in upper New York State, the two tried out for football, and the rest is history. We are honored to recognize their important contributions to football, as well as their long journey to the U.S., at our Annual Awards Dinner in December.”

Charlie had never kicked a field goal before he arrived at Princeton, but he sold himself to College Football Hall of Fame head coach Dick Colman. He went on to become a First Team All-Ivy League selection in 1964 and 1965, the first two years the league honored a placekicker, and he was named a First Team All-American in 1965. Charlie converted 16-of-23 field goals in 1965, highlighted by a perfect 6-for-6 performance in a 32-6 win over Rutgers. He kicked a perfect 33-for-33 on PATs in 1965 and 89-for-94 in his career. Charlie finished his career with seven NCAA kicking records and broke his brother Pete's record by connecting on 50 extra points without a miss.

Charlie became the first placekicker selected in the first round of the NFL Draft when he was taken with the sixth overall pick by the Washington Redskins. In three seasons with the Redskins, he converted 32-of-57 field goals and 72-of-75 extra points. In a 72-41 Redskins win over the Giants in 1966, Pete and Charlie combined for 14 extra points, tied for the most ever in NFL history. Pete played another three seasons with the New England Patriots, converting 20-of-36 field goals and 42-of-42 PATs.

Charlie received his law degree from George Washington University during his Redskins playing days and retired from A.G. Edwards, a Boston based brokerage firm, in 2009. He served on the Princeton admissions committee and the Board of Trustees for the Northeast Harbor (Maine) Library, and he was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Award for Citizenship by the American-Hungarian Foundation. Charlie was also a volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club and formerly coached a boys' soccer team in New Jersey. He was named to the Ivy League Silver Anniversary All-Star Team in 1981 and is a member of Princeton's All-Century Team.

Recipients of the NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award include:

2015 – Charlie and Pete Gogolak
2014 – Jim Host
2013 – Dennie Poppe
2012 – No honoree
2011 – Verne Lundquist, Brent Musburger
2010 – Dr. Joseph Kearney
2009 – Dan Jenkins
2008 – Bill Battle
2007 – The Collegiate Bowl Games
2006 – ESPN's College GameDay
2005 – Prentice Gautt
2004 – Rick Dickson, Pat Harmon
2003 – Rudy J. Riska
2002 – Dal Shealy
2001 – Thomas C. Hansen
2000 – Tom Nugent
1999 – Chuck Neinas
1998 – Marino H. Casem
1997 – Jack Lengyel
1996 – Robert M. "Scotty" Whitelaw
1995 – Fred Jacoby
1994 – Mike Cleary
1993 – John E. "Buddy" Leake
1992 – Eddie Robinson
1991 – Don B. Canham
1990 – Bill Nicholas
1989 – Bob Woodruff
1988 – Lindsey Nelson
1987 – Chris Schenkel
1986 – Rex Farrior
1985 – A.F. "Bud" Dudley
1984 – No honoree
1983 – Gov. William Winter
1982 – Earnest E. Seiler
1981 – Edward "Moose" Krause
1980 – Field Scovell
1979 – No honoree
1978 – Jack Farcasin
1977 – No honoree
1976 – No honoree
1975 – Joseph J. Tomlin
1974 – Lathrop King Leishman

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