THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (May 16, 2013) – Last Thursday evening at the SUNY Maritime Senior Award Ceremony, Privateer football senior Martin Brown (Huntington Station, N.Y./Huntington) was recognized as one of the recipients of the Lt. Evans - Lt. Col. Howard College Football Player of the Year Award by the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 50, based out of Pelham, N.Y. On hand at the ceremony to present the award to Brown was Ken Kraetzer, Commander of Sons of the American Legion in Pelham, N.Y. as well as Frank Barbieri, former Post 50 Commander.
In its third year, the award recognizes outstanding performance and commitment to service by college football players attending military service academies, with an emphasis on demonstrating superb leadership abilities. This is the second straight season that a Maritime football team member has earned this award, as former Privateer standout Jamie Spanopoulos did so in 2012.
Brown was a four-year letterwinner for the Maritime football team and saw action in 19 games in the past four seasons. He compiled seven tackles, including four solo tackles. In his four seasons, Brown was productive both on and off the field at Maritime. The defensive lineman was the football program's first ever Academic All-Conference Awardee and earned that honor all three times he was eligible for it. The Huntington Station, N.Y. native is graduating with a degree in Marine Operations with a U.S. Coast Guard Deck License and is receiving an Officer's Commission as a Naval Aviator upon graduation.
About Lt. Evans And Lt. Col. Howard
The award is named after two Pelham natives who were members of Morgan State College's 1949 National Championship football team and graduates of the school's landmark Army Reserve Officer Training Program. Lt. Eugene Evans served in the Korean War and died in service while leading a night mission over enemy lines. Lt. Col. Eli Page Howard Jr. served in Korea, Germany, and Washington D.C. On a second Vietnam tour, he died when his helicopter was shot down while leading the 3rd Battalion of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, near Da Nang during a 1969 battle. Both Lt. Evans and Lt. Col. Howard were named members of the Pelham Hall of Honor which recognizes graduates of Pelham Memorial High School and the Pelham community.