2000 WINNER: EDWIN F. JABLONSKI

Seventy-five-year-old Edwin F. Jablonski, who has been attending Green Bay Packers games since the team was playing at old City Stadium in the early 1950s and has had more than 1,000 other fans as his guests at Lambeau Field over the years, has been named the third annual honoree for the Packers FAN Hall of Fame.

Jablonski, a resident of Wausau, Wis., and one of ten finalists for the honor, joins the late Mel Knoke of Appleton, the charter honoree in 1999, and Louis Gardipee of Black River Falls, Wis., the 2000 inductee, in the Fan Hall.

Jablonski began following the Packers a half-century ago, going to games whenever he could secure a ticket. In the interim, he and his wife, Dorothy, have long since demonstrated their deep and personal loyalty to the Green and Gold since being able to acquire season tickets, having missed only three home games in the past 35 years.

In addition, Edwin since has shared the Packers experience with many friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers in the Wausau area - in a special way. All of them - and there have been more than 1,200 over the years - have been treated to a pre-game ritual brunch as well as tickets to the game.

Over the past four decades, the Jablonskis have become fixtures in Section 9, Row 57 of Lambeau Field's northeast corner.

In recognition of being selected to represent all fans as the Packers FAN Hall of Fame's third honorary fan, Jablonski will be saluted on the Lambeau Field JumboTron board during the Packers' final home game of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, December 24. He also will receive a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate and a road trip for two to a 2001 Packers away game (including tickets, air fare and hotel accommodations).

In the election process, Packers fans were asked to vote on the ten finalists - chosen by the Packers FAN Hall of Fame selection committee - whose stories best represented all Packers fans.

The finalists, in addition to Jablonski, included Herbert T. Barnes, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.; Ethel "Tootie" Carew, Shawano, Wis.; Ray Cates, New Munster, Wis.; Ken Claus, Roscoe, Ill.; Beatrice Froelich, Green Bay; Robert W. Goodwin, Beaver Dam, Wis.; Marge Koenig, Wittenberg, Wis.; Larry Primeau, Green Bay; and Fr. Carl Steiner, Wrightstown, Wis.

International in scope, balloting for the FAN Hall of Fame produced thousands of votes from throughout the United States and countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Scotland and New Zealand.

The Packers FAN Hall of Fame, established by the Green Bay Packers and the Packers Hall of Fame, is exclusively sponsored by Shopko Stores, Stein Gardens and Gifts, RE/MAX and Best Buy.