Jim Phelan Honored as a "Champion for Life'
2/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | General
KENT, Ohio – Jim Phelan '65, owner and Chief Executive Officer of Phelan Insurance in Versailles and former Kent State University football player, was presented a Champion of Life award by the GoDaddy.com Bowl.Â
Since its inception in 1999, the GoDaddy.com Bowl has given numerous Champion of Life awards. Honorees have achieved great success in their chosen field through dedication and hard work. They have overcome the many obstacles that have stood in the path of success and have given a great deal back to the community and country.
"The support of our Kent State community and alumni plays a critical role in the success of our student-athletes, but it is also something that we appreciate to the greatest degree," said Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen. "The Phelan family's support has been a key contributor to the continued growth and success experienced by the department." Â
Phelan is a long-standing member of the National Athletic Development Council at Kent State and KSU's Varsity "K" organization. Â
"The Phelan family's unwavering leadership and steadfast support of Kent State Athletics is helping to ensure our student-athletes realize success academically and maintain a nationally known athletic reputation," added Executive Director of Athletic Advancement Matthew Geis.Â
In 2007, Phelan gave the leadership gift for the Varsity "K" Room renovations project and has helped to attain additional gifts for this project. Â Most recently, Phelan and former teammate George Jenkins '63 gave a combined gift towards the Football Enhancement Fund for the Hall of Fame Plaza in the south end of Dix Stadium. The plaza honors Kent State's football greats and includes Varsity "K" Hall of Fame inductees, retired jersey honorees and NFL standouts.
