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    LANDESVERBAND  

  NEWSLETTER AND MAGAZINE 

DONAUSCHWABEN SPORT NEWS

02/24/13

January February March   2009    Volume 4 Number 1

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.

Werner with his wife Emily in their traditional Donauschwaben Trachten

    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.   He served on various committees in Horsham Township; he served on the Governors Energy Development Authority, was President of the Eastern PA Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, President and Co-Founder of the Builders Association of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and served on the Board of Directors of Friends of Graeme Park. He was very active in the Republican Party at the local and state level and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1984.

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.

    A memorial located at the northeast corner of Mooch Myernick Field in the US National Team Training Center at The Home Depot Center was unveiled during the ceremony. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati unveiled the bronze bust and presented a commemorative plaque to Werner Fricker's children: Werner Fricker Jr., Marlene Fricker and Janet Fricker Malofiy. The Werner Fricker family was also presented at halftime of the U.S. qualifying match.

The Werner Fricker Memorial in Los Ageless, California                    Close up; The Werner Fricker Memorial                    

    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

VISITING AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE

FEBRUARY  2009

United German Hungarians

Soccer News

Forwarded From UGH

    Our Under 17 Soccer Team won the Indoor State Cups, the Bethseda Thanksgiving Invitational Tournament and their League Championship for three consecutive years.  Some of the team members have been selected as All League High School Players:  Andrew Weyershaueser, (Hatboro-Horsham High School), Zach Urenstein, (Council Rock South High School) and Justin Massaro, (William Tennent High School). This team will travel to Tampa, Florida to participate in the “Score at the Shore” College Showcase Tournament in February.

    The legacy of Werner Fricker’s dedication to the growth of soccer continues to influence soccer in the United States as the U.S. Soccer Federation is currently accepting nominations for the “2009 Werner Fricker Builder Award” honoring the late Fricker’s achievements in the game.  The honor is bestowed annually to an individual who has worked tirelessly in furthering the interest of the sport of soccer and this award is the greatest recognition bestowed by U.S. Soccer on its membership     

    Over the Martin Luther King Holiday (January 17th - 19th), Green White will be playing in the King’s Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The club will be sending teams to compete in the Over 35 and Over 40 divisions. 

    If interested in playing (at the tables or on the pitch), contact John Dunkas. JDunkas@aol.com.

    Over President’s Day weekend (February 14-15), Green White will be sending teams to compete in the Madison United President’s Cup Tournament. Again, the club will sponsor teams in the Over 30 and Over 38 divisions. Of course, its not too late to put together a team for the open division also. 

If interested in playing or eating cheese, contact John Dunkas. JDunkas@aol.com.

    Kurt Melcher and Tom Czop guided their Robert Morris College Women’s Soccer Team to a tie for second place in the CCAC with a league record of 7-2-1. Along the way the long time Green White players tutored their charges to five post season awards, including an all-conference player award and four conference honorable mention awards.

    Green White Over 30 Team member and Loyola University Assistant Coach Tim McBride saw his Rambler team finish a stellar season with a 12-6-4 record; a Horizon League Tournament Championship and a birth in the NCAA Tournament. The team was unfortunate to bow out of the big dance on penalty kicks to Northwestern, but the loss did not diminish a season full of success. Congratulations to McBride and the entire Rambler team.

    Congratulations to Green White First Teamer Jimmy Romano who helped his Judson University side to the CCAC Tournament title (the team’s fifth in a row) and a birth in the NAIA Tournament. The Junior defender played in 14 games for the team that ultimately ended their season in the first round of the NAIA Tournament to #2 ranked Notre Dame College (OH).

    Congratulations to Green White First Teamer Arso Mitreski who earned an All-CCAC honorable mention award for his play under the tutelage of Green White player and Robert Morris Head Coach Jake Truty. The sophomore forward played in 12 games and lead the team with 5 goals and 1 assist.