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Stevie Thomas, Sylvester Bembery and George Lafrance elected to 2011 Arena Football Hall of Fame Cla

August 12, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Storm are pleased to announce that former Tampa Bay Storm standouts Stevie Thomas, Sylvester Bembery and George LaFrance have been elected to the 2011 Arena Football Hall of Fame Class.

"The 2011 Hall of Fame Class is filled with an elite group of players, coaches and executives," Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz said. "Each member has played an important role in the game of Arena Football and where it is today. All ten deserve to be inducted to the first AFL Hall of Fame class since 2002."

Stevie Thomas who played with the Tampa Bay Storm from 1991-1999 was a member of four ArenaBowl Championship teams.

"Stevie bleeds Storm blue," said Tampa Bay Storm head coach Dave Ewart. "There may not be a player in the history of this league that has made bigger plays in bigger games than Stevie has for the Tampa Bay Storm."

Sylvester Bembery was a six-time All-Arena selection who played with Tampa Bay from 1994-99 and in 2001. He won two ArenaBowl Championships as a member of the Storm.

"We are honored to have Sylvester represent us in the Arena Football Hall of Fame," said Ewart. "I never had the privilege of coaching Sylvester, but I did have the difficult task of trying to game plan him as a young coach and he was a hard guy to come up with answers to stop him. He was a dominating force on the line."

George LaFrance is a five-time ArenaBowl Champion (Detroit, 3; Tampa Bay, 2), two-time MVP (1989, 1991) and two-time Offensive Player of the Year (1989, 1991). He played in Tampa Bay from 1994-1999.

"LaFrance was ahead of his time when he played in the AFL," added Ewart. "He was threat every to score every time he touched the ball, whether it was catching the ball or retuning the ball."

The other members of the 2011 Hall of Fame Class includes: San Jose SaberCats HEAD COACH DARREN ARBET, two-time Coach of the Year (2000, 2002) and owner of three ArenaBowl titles with San Jose (2002, 2004, 2007); WR EDDIE BROWN, ranked the Greatest Player in AFL History by the AFL Historical Committee, and three-time Offensive Player of the Year (1994, 1996, 1999); WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER, two-time Ironman of the Year award winner (1999-00) and AFL MVP (1993); OL/DL SAM HERNANDEZ, the AFL's all-time sack leader with 59; Chicago Rush PRESIDENT/GM GENE NUDO, AFL Founders Award Winner (2002) and three-time League Executive of the Year (1997, 1999, 2000) with Arizona; WR/DB BARRY WAGNER, ranked as the second Greatest Player in AFL History by the AFL Historical Committee and six-time Ironman of the Year winner (1992-97); and QB KURT WARNER, AFL Founders Award winner (2006), finishing his AFL career with 10,465 passing yards and 183 touchdowns.

Ten finalists were generated from the Hall of Fame Advisory Board, consisting of a rich list of journalists and executives with a long-time involvement in the game. Then, the ballots were passed to current AFL Hall of Famers while fans also received a weighted vote.

The Hall of Fame Operating Board of Directors opted to induct all ten members into the AFL Hall of Fame after a lengthy conference call.

The 2011 AFL Hall of Fame Class will be inducted during 2012 Kickoff Weekend.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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