Roger Gruwell – There is not a position in the league that he has not held nor a young boy’s heart that he hasn’t touched in his long association with MYFA.   Most notably, Roger has been the league’s Registrar for many years, was a co-founder of the very successful flag football program and a driving force behind the seventh grade division.   As a member of MYFA’s Executive Board, he remains a champion for the boys in the program while insuring that the integrity of the program remains true to it’s original charter.   As a coach, Roger has served as a mentor to most of the league’s coaches; many have gone on to coach in the Middle and High School Programs.  A tireless contributor, Roger devotes his energies to the program 12 months a year to insure that everyone has a positive and rewarding football experience.

Richard Porter – 2004 will be Rich Porter’s 25^th season as an MYFA head coach and member of the board of directors. He has been an active and integral part of the growth and success of Metro Youth Football. He has been a positive role model not only for over 600 players, but for the coaches of MYFA. His love of the game and loyalty to the mission of MYFA has earned him the highest respect from his peers, colleges, and players. He was active in the development of the seventh grade division in 2002, and has seen MYFA nearly triple in participation. Throughout the overwhelming growth of MYFA, Rich has been committed to maintaining the values and ideals Metro Youth Football was founded on, keeping the interest of the players’ top priority.

2002 INDUCTEE

2000 INDUCTEES

Bob A'Hearn · Terry Bjornsen · Bob Murray - MYFA remains a healthy and growing part of our community thanks, at least in part, to the vision and generosity of Bob A'Hearn, Terry Bjornsen and Bob Murray. 
     Terry Bjornsen donated the 27 acres of land that now comprise the MYFA Sports Complex. Bob A'Hearn and Bob Murray donated access to our facility which had previously been land-locked. More recently, Bob A'Hearn poured the concrete street that now provides Metro Football permanent, hard surface access to our facility.
     These three gentlemen have long supported youth and family activities in the area. They felt that contributing to the community was a civic duty and they shared an affinity for area youth. When the fledgling Metro Youth Football program needed a place to call home, the 2000 Inductees recognized the need for young people to have a safe place to play football. They shared in a vision to create a youth sports facility dedicated to the children of Eastern Iowa.
     MYFA could not exist as it does today without the magnanimous donations of Bob A'Hearn, Terry Bjornsen and Bob Murry. Through their generosity, they not only gave Metro Football the land on which we play, they gave our athletes and our organization a home.

1999 INDUCTEES

Robert Jones - A past president, officer, coach, fields manager and equipment manager, Bob has done it all. While his contributions to the league cannot be measured, it is most notably the current quality and condition of our equipment that will remain his legacy in our program. Weather it is reminding coaches to check the player's equipment or educating them in its proper fit, Bob has, and remains, uncompromising when it comes to the safety of your children. He is adamant in his drive to secure the best equipment for our youth program.  His tireless commitment to this endeavor will still find him on his free days, up in the equipment facility working to ensure that the boys have safe, quality equipment to participate with. Bob has always worked behind the scenes and loathes any personal end-less work for the betterment of MYFA.

1998 INDUCTEES

Jan Summers - Joe and Jan Summers began their involvement with MYFA slowly, providing their children -- the lifeblood of Metro Football. They entrusted the care and well being of their sons, as you do today, to the volunteers of the MYFA.  In the late 1980’s Jan saw the work that was needed to organize and run the concession stand.  Jan helped grow, the MYFA concession operation from a run down trailer, to the structure that exists today.  The concession stand is an important revenue source for MYFA, keeping the participation fee affordable for all players, and Jan is largely responsible for it’s success.  She volunteered then, and is still here today, despite the fact that their middle son, Jerry, and youngest son, Justin, played their last games in 1990!  Jan and her husband Joe, made a family commitment to MYFA and it is their hope, that others would find similar fulfillment and satisfaction in the program.

Joe Summers - Joe was a long-time coach and familiar face in the MYFA.  Joe was also the second Fields Manager for MYFA.  While Jim Carnell developed the land, Joe was responsible for developing many of the structures that exist within the MYFA Sports Complex.  For sixteen years, Joe donated much of his time and labor to the league.  Joe did the jobs that needed doing and were typically the jobs that no one wanted to do.  He erected the west fence line, built the two scoring towers and trenched in the utilities that make this complex work.  He arranged for the local trade unions to donate their services that gave us the two- story equipment building and our current concession stand.  What Joe could not salvage, scavenge or get donated, he would quietly provide on his own.  Joe is a warm, personable man who dedicated himself to MYFA and your children. We have our current facilities because of his hard work and the donations that he secured.

1996 INDUCTEES

David Hoyt - A past president, officer, coach and MYFA Executive Board member, David has been and still remains, an invaluable resource for all members of the program.  Dave’s coaching techniques and his relationships with the boys are legendary in MYFA history.  He serves as a continuing role model for all new coaches and their assistants.  Dave continues his involvement in Metro Football by serving on the newly established MYFA Scholarship Board.  Dave’s organizational and leadership skills are renowned, as the MYFA Board and Committees essentially operate on a Dave Hoyt designed system..  League equipment had always been stored in rented space that was unlighted, damp and crowded.  Dave was troubled by the storage conditions, and became the driving force behind the construction of our equipment building.  Despite being told by many, that it could not be done and we could never afford it, Dave accomplished the task in months with donated labor and materials discounts. We proudly welcome David Hoyt to the MYFA Honor Roll.

Dick Pohorsky - A long time officer and coach in the league, you may have also heard his voice on opening day reading the over 400 boys and coaches names.  Dick, along with the other elite members of the MYFA Honor Roll, gave stability and guidance to a program that faced a long uphill battle in the early years.  Dick was instrumental in recruiting many of the coaches and volunteers that still dot the MYFA membership today.  Dick’s gifts as a mentor, leader and motivator, brought to a MYFA new level of excellence, all the while insuring the boy’s welfare was always first and foremost on everyone’s mind.  Congratulations Dick on your induction in the MYFA Honor Roll.

1995 INDUCTEES

Cedar Rapids Jaycees - Organized Pee Wee Football, the forerunner of MYFA, in 1971.  Their original goal then as now, was to “instill values of sportsmanship and participation over winning.  The idea of tackle football for this age group was born in the face of controversy and opposition from the Linn County Medical Society and the Cedar Rapids School system and subsequent media attention.  Despite the obstacles, the Jaycees persisted and the original six teams played their first games on September 26, 1971.  Recognizing the need for year round attention to the program, the Jaycees gave their blessing and existing equipment to create the Metro Youth Football Association in 1974.

Darrel Berry - An original founding member of the program, Darrel Berry’s dream of tackle football, teamed with his dedication and drive to that ideal, became a reality in 1971.  Darrel was a driving force behind the creation of the program and steered the organization through many early obstacles.  As past president and current member of the Executive Board, Darrel ensures that the league remains true to its founding principles.  The MYFA Sports Complex sits upon land donated to the league back in 1978, facilitated in no small part by Darrel.  In the early years when funds were short, Darrel worked to see the boys were properly equipped and the league received everything it needed.  Darrel’s favorite phrase, still quoted by coaches and board members alike, serves to remind us why we are here:  “Remember, this program is for the boys.”

John Pierce - Another original founding member of the program, John has been around since the league’s inception.  A friendly, familiar face to all, John has held many positions within the league and has worn “many hats” over the years.  John served as the league’s first treasurer when it’s financial position was precarious at best.  While John is an active member of the Executive Board, his best talent is working behind the scenes as an advisor, a respected role model and trusted friend.  John is responsible for the MYFA Booster Club, a fund raising partner for MYFA.  Without the Booster Club’s continued support, MYFA would not have survived and reached the level of success it enjoys today.  Recently John was asked to lend his wisdom and guidance to a new MYFA endeavor when he was invited to serve on the newly established MYFA Scholarship Board.  Over time the names and faces of MYFA have changed, John has been, and continues to be, the “glue” that holds MYFA together.

Jim Carnell - A long time member and supporter of MYFA, Jim has held many titles and positions within the league.  As a past president and long time Executive Board member, Jim was a tireless worker and advocate for the league.  In the early years, Jim was the “problem-solver” at a time when “problems” arose with regular frequency.  A behind-the-scenes kind of guy, Jim’s impact and total hours of commitment to the program can never be measured.  Jim was in charge of the fields for many years, serving as the first fields manager after the property was donated to MYFA.  As the original fields manager, Jim had the task of laying out the fields and arranging for their original grading and seeding.  The acquisition and installation of goal posts and flag pole were arranged, at no cost to the league, by Jim Carnell.  Jim made sure we had water when he solicited the donation of a well and laid the underground supply lines.  The original road into the complex (located to the south where condos now stand) was built largely to Jim’s efforts.  He rarely received any thanks for his commitment, nor did he ever seek any.  The time to say thank-you is long overdue.  Congratulations Jim and welcome to the MYFA Honor Roll.