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Donauschwaben in den USA |
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VISITING AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE MARCH 2009
Werner Fricker
Werner as player for the Deutsch-Ungarn Philadelphia A Donauschwabe of Distinction in the World of
Soccer and Beyond! By:
The Fricker Family Edited
by: Hans Kopp
Werner was
born Jan. 24, 1936, in Karlsdorf Banat, Yugoslavia, (present day Serbia) of
German, Banater Schwaben ancestry. He and his
family were forced to flee to Austria in 1944. He began soccer playing career in Peuerbach (upper
Austria) and later after moving to Bischofshofen (near Salzburg) he continued to
play soccer. He loved the outdoors especially skiing. Together with his family
he immigrated to the United States in 1952. Very little did he know then that he
one day would hold the highest soccer office of any Donauschwabe in the Nation.
Early on he
learned the trade and became a Master Carpenter. Soon he formed his own
Carpentry and Contracting Business. His love for Building led him into Home and
Building Construction as well as Land Development and Real Estate. His firm
Fricker Corporation of Horsham, Pa. was highly respected. Fricker Corporation
was a firm responsible for the building and development of thousands of quality
homes and planned communities in the Philadelphia area as well as commercial
properties. Many outstanding contracting companies in the area exist today
because of Werner Fricker’s loyalty to his Employees and his Sub Contractors. Having once
been “heimatlos” as a refugee in Austria he was very proud to be an American
and a citizen of the United States. He believed in serving his community of
Horsham, and Pennsylvania.
Werner is being introduced to US President Ronal Reagan Shortly after
his arrival in the Philadelphia area, he found a lifelong home at the United
German Hungarian Club. He was very proud of his Banat German heritage, active as
a young man in Dance and Cultural activities. He rose through the ranks serving
in many capacities. In 1973 disaster struck the
United German Hungarians, a fire destroyed the clubhouse. It was through
Werner’s energetic efforts and leadership that the rebuilding was completed
and reopened again to the members in almost 3 months to the day of the fire. In 2001 the
President of the Club wrote, “There is no one who contributed more, both
financially and physically, to the development and success of the United German
Hungarians over the past 50 years than Werner Fricker”.
As a player,
he played for the United German Hungarians for 23 years.
He was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1964, The US Pan Am Team in
1967 and captain of the United German Hungarian Major Team for ten years,
including 1965 when they captured the U.S. National Amateur Cup Championship. Werner
Fricker served as President of his Amateur Club, the United German Hungarians;
his local league The United Soccer League of Pennsylvania; and his State
Association, The Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association, which led him to serve
the country through the United States Soccer Federation.
Werner was
elected President of the United States Soccer Federation in July 1984. He was
Executive Vice President for ten years prior to being elected President. He also
served on the Concacaf Executive Committee. His
leadership was a major factor in the Federation’s increased vitality and
progress, and he was directly responsible for bringing the FIFA World Cup to the
United States for the first time in 1994. He had a vision for the U.S. National
Teams to be successful and worked tirelessly to bring all members of US Soccer
together to serve that goal. In his final
years, Werner Fricker Served the United States Amateur Soccer Association as a
Representative to the Federation Board of Directors. He worked to establish and
nurture the common goals of all Amateur Soccer Organizations both Youth and
Adult, and was committed to establishing lasting relationships between USASA and
these organizations as well as the Professional Soccer Leagues. He continued as well to work in
many advisory capacities to the US Soccer President and the National Teams
Development Programs.
Werner, President of the USSF, with Kurt Lamm Secretary and Gene Edwards past president Werner Fricker died in Horsham, Pa. on May 30, 2001. In 2002 The
United States Soccer Federation Created the “Werner Fricker Builder Award”
the honor is bestowed annually to an individual who has worked tirelessly in
furthering the interest of the sport of soccer, without regard to personal
recognition or advancement. The Werner Fricker Award is designed to honor those
who have created or fostered programs that will outlast their own active
involvement in the sport and that establish a lasting legacy in the history and
structure of soccer in the United States. In
recognition of his guidance, perseverance and dedication in establishing the
sport of soccer in the United States, former president of the U.S. Soccer
Federation Werner Fricker was honored during a ceremony on Sunday, June 15 2008
before the U.S. Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match.
Werner Fricker left a lasting mark on all he touched. His greatest legacy of which he would be most proud is the people whom he touched, his Friends, his Co-Workers and his Family. Werner Fricker served the Game of Soccer at all levels in the United States. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, The Concacaf Hall Of Fame and The Philadelphia Old Timers Soccer Hall of Fame. The United German American Committee of the USA also honored him. He was inducted into the USASA Hall of Fame.
Werner’s last game
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