The Dynamo will induct three Houstonians as the inaugural class of the Orange Blazer Club at halftime of Sunday's playoff game against Seattle Sounders FC, it was announced today. The Dynamo's home game in the Western Conference semifinal series is presented by Nutrament, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and adidas.
The Orange Blazer Club, named in honor of Dynamo President Oliver Luck's orange jacket, honors individuals who have made a major contribution to the Houston soccer community. The organization will add one person to the club each season. The three inaugural members of the Orange Blazer Club are Glenn Davis, Jack Stanfield, and the late Victor Delgadillo.
"The Houston Dynamo are excited to honor these exceptional individuals into the Orange Blazer Club," said Luck, the Dynamo's president and general manager. "These gentlemen displayed such passion, love, and support for the sport of soccer. Without them we would not have the success and popularity that we see with soccer at all levels in Houston today."
Davis was born in New Jersey and began playing soccer at a young age. He attended Boston University, and Davis and Elkins College, where he earned NAIA All-America honors. After graduation, Davis played professionally throughout the United States, including for the 1984 Houston Dynamos. With Houston, he captained the team to the championship match. Davis has been involved with youth soccer clubs throughout his life. After his playing career, Davis helped form the Houston Hurricanes Youth Soccer Club. He is currently a play-by-play broadcaster for ESPN, the radio host of 790 The Sports Animal's weekly Dynamo All-Access with Glenn Davis show, the television host of FOX Sports Houston's Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis show, and color analyst for Dynamo television broadcasts on FOX Sports Houston and KHOU 11.2. Davis is a nationally recognized broadcaster and has called two World Cups for ESPN and the Olympics on NBC.
The late Delgadillo was known as a "soccer pioneer." He promoted soccer in Houston's Hispanic community in the 1960s by creating the Houston Soccer Association. He created the league partially for recent immigrants so they could meet and interact with fellow neighbors through soccer. Delgadillo also helped bring the Houston Hurricanes to town to compete in the United Soccer Leagues and served as vice president in the late 1990s. Delgadillo's efforts impacted thousands, and his leagues still hold strong today, bringing thousands of people together every weekend. Delgadillo was heralded for his selfless expansion of the sport of soccer in the community and loved by many. He passed away on September 26, 2009, due to cancer.
Stanfield, a native Canadian, played professional hockey in the early 1960s and 1970s, including time with the Houston Aeros. After his playing career, Stanfield served as vice president, assistant general manager, and assistant coach for the Aeros until 1978, when he moved into soccer. Stanfield served as vice president and assistant general manager for the Houston Hurricane of the NASL, including a first-place team in 1979. Stanfield is also credited for launching Home Sports Entertainment, a successful regional sports network in the 1980s. From there, Stanfield joined forces with FOX Sports as one of the original expanders and programmers for FOX Soccer Channel, FOX Sports Espanol and FOX Sports Latin America. His global media efforts have raised the profile of U.S. soccer across the world. Stanfield is currently the senior vice president of the FOX International Channels Group.
The inductees will be presented with orange blazers during halftime of the November 8 match at Robertson Stadium. Victor Delgadillo's daughter, Angela Lopez, will accept on his behalf.
ABOUT THE HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo are a Major League Soccer franchise that has won two MLS Cup championships in its first three seasons and represented the United States in three consecutive regional championships. Be sure to ask about the new Texas Children's Health Plan Family Section. For more information, please log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.
ABOUT ACADEMY SPORTS + OUTDOORS
Academy Sports + Outdoors is one of the nation's largest sporting goods retailers and currently has 117 stores in 11 states across the southeastern United States. Academy offers sports, outdoors and lifestyle enthusiasts of all ages a diverse selection of equipment, apparel, footwear and lifestyle products at everyday low prices.
Academy employs over 14,000 associates and has two distribution centers - one located in Katy, Texas and one located in Jeffersonville, Ga. Academy plans to continue to expand its store locations throughout the southeast.
