NFFMN Release | FS North Special
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Todd Fultz, a 1990 graduate of Saint John's University, will receive the 2011 Courage Award at this year's Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation's “Honoring Legends, Inspiring Leaders” Awards Dinner on Sunday, April 17. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. in the Murray-Herrick Campus Center at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
A three-year starter for the Johnnies (1988-90), Fultz ended his career as the school's all-time leader in both receptions (157) and receiving yards (2,584), and second in receiving touchdowns (24). He has since been surpassed, but is currently fourth in both receptions and yards, and eighth in receiving touchdowns.
After sustaining serious injuries in a head-on vehicle collision on June 5, 2008, Fultz faced a long recovery. Fultz has said of his experience, which included five major surgeries and having to learn to walk again, “It has been a challenging two years of recovery but through this I have learned gratefulness, seen love, and felt true compassion like no other time in my life."
An active member of the Minnesota football community, Fultz was an assistant high school football coach under coaches Mike Grant and George Thole and served as the head coach of the semi-professional Minneapolis Lumberjacks, leading the squad to the 1997 Mid-American Football League championship. Fultz was the co-creator (with Anthony LaPanta '90) of the John Gagliardi Show, which aired on Midwest Sports Channel in the mid-1990s.
Fultz chronicles his recovery process and the connections he forged with friends and family in his book The Year of Small Victories (Victory Press). A longtime entrepreneur, Fultz currently owns Hail Pros, The Roofing Specialist. He and his wife, Erica, have three children.
The Master of Ceremonies will be WCCO-TV news personality Frank Vascellaro and the keynote address will be given by new University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill. To purchase tickets to the event, visit the Minnesota Chapter website (www.nffmn.org).
