Dinner Honors Shula

Fri., Sept. 13, 1996

Compiled From Wire Services

Some 900 of Don Shula’s closest friends paid tribute to the coach who won two Super Bowls and an NFL-record 347 games.

Celebrities, dignitaries and NFL players past and present honored Shula at a blacktie dinner party thrown by Miami Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“I’m really honored to be here,” Shula said during a news conference prior to the dinner. “There are a lot of people here who have been very instrumental in any success I’ve had.”

The crowd included Jimmy Johnson, who replaced Shula in January.

“When you look at the records he has achieved, they will never be duplicated,” Johnson said. “Don, congratulations. You’ll always be remembered as the greatest of all time.”

Also on hand were Gov. Lawton Chiles and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Sportscaster Chris Berman was the master of ceremonies. Speakers included Larry Csonka, Bob Griese and Dan Marino, who played for Shula, and golfer Ray Floyd, Shula’s neighbor and close friend.

The NFL has rejected Bryce Paup’s appeal of a $12,000 fine the Buffalo Bills linebacker received last season after a hit on Indianapolis quarterback Paul Justin.

Paup was fined after knocking out Justin in the third week of the season.

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Dinner Honors Shula

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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