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Rodney Goodrich of Stetsonville a finalist for Packers fan hall of fame
Rodney Goodrich of Stetsonville has been named a finalist for the Annual Packers FAN Hall of Fame.
Area residents will have an opportunity to show their support for Goodrich’s nomination by voting for him during the month of January at the FAN Hall of Fame website packers.com/fhof.
Goodrich is one of 10 finalists named in the search for the 25th member of the Packers FAN Hall of Fame, and voting has begun for fans to make the selection.
The first professional football team to have a hall of fame, the Green Bay Packers enhanced that distinction in 1998 by establishing a Packers FAN Hall of Fame. It was founded for the purpose of annually honoring a devout and longtime Packers fan.
Packers fans were asked to nominate themselves or a friend for the honor with an essay of 500 words or less, accompanied by a photo, explaining why he or she should be recognized. From those nominations, 10 finalists were selected by the Packers FAN Hall of Fame selection committee.
This year’s 10 finalists are:
• Brittany Bogan – Green Bay, Wis.
See RODNEY GOODRICH on page 3 • John Breske – Elderon, Wis
• Patrick Egle – Redlands, Calif.
• Rodney Goodrich – Stetsonville, Wis.
• Jimmy Krueger – Dallas
• Julie Lankey-Smallwood – Wonewoc, Wis.
• Ryan Packer – Milwaukee
• Noam Sturm – Avon, Conn.
• Robert Thom – Neenah, Wis.
• Christopher Windisch – Williston Park, NY Fans can read the finalists’ profiles and vote online by visiting packers.com/fhof. The winner will be selected by Packers fans and the Packers’ selection committee.
The voting deadline is midnight, Jan. 31, 2023. Voters will be entered into a random drawing to win Packers merchandise.
The honoree’s selection will be announced in late winter 2023. He or she will receive four club seats to a 2023 Packers home game; a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate; a road trip for two to a 2023 Packers away game, including game tickets, air fare and hotel accommodations; and a one-year subscription to PackersNews. com.
The honoree also will have his or her name added to the list of FAN Hall of Fame honorees recognized in the Packers Hall of Fame.
Rodney Goodrich was nominated by Joe Greget of Medford.
In his nomination Greget wrote: “As the Director of Special Education here in the Medford Area Public School District we average 375 students with disabilities on an annual basis. One of these students was Colten Ruppel who was on the autism spectrum. Colten attended all of his school years here in Medford Schools taught by fabulous teachers like Misty Galli, Carol Wieman, Beth van der Berg, and Nicole Gripentrog to name a few. Colten was a leader here by example in school. He was a graduate, obtained his driver’s license, now works at Taylor Credit Union and Marilyn’s Catering and Restaurant, and was inspirational to creating the Employment First Legislation for people with disabilities here in Wisconsin signed by then Gov Walker. It is through Colten, that I got to meet both his Mom Ann and his Step-Dad Rodney “Goody” Goodrich. The reason I shared Colten’s story is that it would not be possible without his family. Goody married into the family and immediately became the stepdad to Colten with autism and his older sister. Rodney is a stepdad, volunteer fire fighter for the Stetsonville Area Fire Department, and works here in Medford. Goody attends all of Our Special Family events such as Big Red Bowling Extravaganza and Walk for Autism Awareness always with Colten and rest of the family. Each summer he volunteers to have our special needs students visit the SES Fire Department for a tour, a ride in the fire truck, and learn about fire safety. When Goody is not taking care of his wife and stepchildren, working in our local factory, and/or volunteering as a Fire Fighter - you will not find a bigger or better Green Bay Packers fan. Goody has an extensive video tape collection, one of which is likely the largest in the world. He has video tapes of every single football game that Brett Favre ever played for the Green Bay Packers. His basement is a shrine to the Packers History and the Super Bowl Champion Packers. Brett Favre was introduced into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame with a ceremony at Lambeau Field. That weekend Goody and his wife Ann, another family couple, along with myself and my fiancé attended those events. We had the opportunity to do a meet and greet and photo with Brett Favre prior to his Hall of Fame induction. The smile on Goody’s face meeting his football hero still lasts to this day. I know there are many fans of the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, throughout the United States, and across the world. But there is also one fan - a family man, a stepdad to a child with autism when he didn’t have to be, a volunteer fire fighter, a worker, and a Packers fan who lives in the small town of Stetsonville Wisconsin. I hope you will consider Rodney “Goody” Goodrich.”
