All-90th Year Football Team Announced

The core mission of The Apprentice School is to help build shipyard leadership. Football players look at it as an extension of how things were on the field and bring that into the workplace. The Builder football program is built on that premise and has a history of players that have moved on to key leadership positions in the shipyard.

With this being the 90th year of The Apprentice School - and specifically Apprentice School Football, it is only fitting to honor those who have worn the maroon and gold with the creation of the All-90th year Apprentice School football team.

Nominations were obtained through the athletic department website (www.gobuilders.com) and with those responses, the team was selected.

Forty players and three coaches were selected to the All-90^th year team. Special game day recognition for those players will take place during the October 10 Trades Day game against Lake Erie College, the October 17 Homecoming game with Wesley College and the November 7 game with Frostburg State University.

On offense, our players have moved on into leadership roles in the workforce and in the company - including President of Newport News Shipbuilding. You have a couple linemen who were honored with national  academic awards (Clem Stewart, Jon Gladden); another lineman who buoyed his apprenticeship into a chief operating officer for Tire America (Jim Bundick); a set of running backs who combined for over 7,800 yards in their careers (Jermaine Bellamy, Sinque Holmes, Bruce Freeman; a record setting quarterback (Darren Graham) and one end who worked his way up the ladder with the company to become the President of Newport News Shipbuilding (Pat Phillips). The team also consists of what is believed to be the only doctor in Durham, NC with welding in his background (Dr. Bob Lincoln); a former receiver who has been extremely active in the community - be it in AAU, Special Olympics, or the Virginia Commonwealth Games (Willie Brown) and a former Director of Trades Administration for the company who followed his playing days with a couple assistant coaching stints and one head coaching reign (Jimmy Wilson).

Defense shows eight players who are still employed with Northrop Grumman, including a couple foreman. In the mix are three former Apprentice School Athletes Of The Year (Olando Robinson, Fred Canady, Steve Sobczak); three members of a successful era from the late 1970s to early 1980s (Ronny Stidham, Robert  "Pee-Wee" Evans and Ron Flucker); a two-way standout from the mid 1930s (Jules Lambiotte) and a member of the team from 1966-69 who finished the school and whose post-apprentice collegiate career was highlighted during the recent film "We Are Marshall" (Arthur "Ace" Loding).

Coaching this honor squad are three men who have held lengthy careers with The Apprentice School and are well known throughout the history of the school. Former NFL quarterback Norman Snead and two of the founding fathers of Apprentice School athletics in Frank Dobson and Pop Lamkin were honored.

We hope you come out and help us recognize these fine former Builders during the 2009 football season.