The Finks League suffered an unforgettable loss in 2008 with
the deaths of Ponz Scum owner Jeff Ponczak and Sodor Rail-Layers owner Shawn Harvey nearly six months apart.
In their memory, the league has established the Harvey-Ponz Award given to the owner who makes
the biggest improvement in the win column compared to the previous season. They were a big reason behind making Finks League
football so much fun to play.
"And it is in dying that we are
born to eternal life."
-- Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
The last line of Harvey's prayer card from his memorial service tries to bring meaning to a life
taken way too soon. The good-guy photographer and editor left behind a wife and two small children when Shawn died of cancer
Dec. 19, 2008.
He was a veteran Finks owner of 10 years, compiling a 71-70-7 record with two different teams.
As the Barenaked Pigskins, Harvey won the 2005 Finger Bowl champion for his only title, and the retired the Pigskins name
the next season to honor his son's favorite TV show: Thomas & Friends.
"It is, What it is"
Ponczak's favorite motto covered all of life's setbacks, even a few of his own along
the way. The 2006 Finger Bowl champion became the second rookie owner to win a Finks League title. In his two seasons, he
owned the highest winning percentage of any Finks League owner.
The survivor of three open heart surgeries could not survive further complications from his congenital
heart defect. Ponz died June 14, 2008 after finishing in third place in 2007.
Harvey-Ponz Award winners
