Lifelong Packers fan, Amy Nelson, was selected by fans from 10 finalists during a voting period that ran from January 1st through January 31st on Packers.com. More than 13,500 votes were cast from throughout the United States and countries around the world.
Nelson is known in her community of Fence (110 miles north of Green Bay in Florence County) for her unwavering enthusiasm, positive attitude and faithful support of the Packers each year. As an adult with Down syndrome, she enjoys the excitement of gameday and the bonds it creates with friends and family, and she aims to spread her team spirit throughout the community.
Each year, she memorizes the schedule and the players’ jersey numbers, and often checks in with family members to see who will be joining her to watch each game, recruiting anyone who doesn’t immediately commit to joining the party. Gameday is a weekly highlight for Nelson, with her planned wardrobe, snacks and seating arrangements helping set the stage for her to offer words of encouragement to the team throughout the game.
At her workplace, Wausaukee Enterprises, Nelson is known for her infectious love of the team and never misses an opportunity to show off her Packers apparel, jewelry and accessories, including green and gold nail polish.
Watch the Announcement
An excerpt of the letter nominating Nelson reads: “Perhaps most importantly, Amy is a great example of true team spirit by supporting the team through the ups and downs of each season and through the passing years. Amy’s faithful and positive outlook at all times is an example all Packers fans should follow.”
Regarding her nomination, Nelson said: “Thank you. I am very excited and want to win! No. 52, Clay Matthews, is my favorite player and it would be an honor to be in the Packers Fan Hall of Fame.”
This year’s other finalists included:
- Dennis Willey – Houston, Texas
- Li Hu – Oshkosh
- Scott Cagle – Green Bay
- Steve Sexmith – Appleton
- Charlie Younkle – Green Bay
- Chuck Bromley – Middleton, Idaho
- Brent Perzentka – Madison
- Ron Colbo – De Pere
- Paul Pagnozzi – Hawthorne, New Jersey
Prizes and Recognition
Nelson will receive four club seats to a 2019 Packers home game; a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate; a road trip for two to a 2019 Packers away game, including game tickets, air fare and hotel accommodations; and a one-year subscription to
Packer Plus
.
Nelson also will have her name permanently displayed in a place of honor in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
The Green Bay Packers established the Packers FAN Hall of Fame in 1998 for the purpose of annually honoring a devout and longtime Packers fan.
Past Honorees
- 1999 – Mel Knoke, Appleton
- 2000 – Louis Gardipee, Black River Falls
- 2001 – Ed Jablonski, Wausau
- 2002 – Paul Mazzoleni, Green Bay
- 2003 – Wanda Boggs, Brookfield
- 2004 – Sister Isaac Jogues Rousseau, Milwaukee
- 2005 – Dorothy Hanke, Milwaukee
- 2006 – Kathy Lazzaro, Milwaukee
- 2007 – Rich Barbera, River Vale, NJ
- 2008 – Richard ‘Ike’ Eisenhauer, Wauwatosa
- 2009 – Allan Hale, Green Bay
- 2010 – Jim Becker, Racine
- 2011 – Tom Little, Mount Sterling, IL
- 2012 – Rick Steele, Greensburg, PA
- 2013 – Edward Fritsch, Sheboygan
- 2014 – Vivian Scherf-Laabs, Cedarburg
- 2015 – Steve Schumer, Gillette, NJ
- 2016 – Patricia Nevala, Menomonie
- 2017 – Frank Lamping, Union Grove
- 2018 – Marquerite “Mugs” Bachhuber, Green Bay
