New York, NEW YORK (2 June 2000) - More than 600 friends and associates, including nearly 20 Heisman Trophy winners, gathered at the New York Marriott Marquis tonight to honor Heisman Trophy Executive Director Rudy Riska on his 40th anniversary at the Downtown Athletic Club.

Riska, who pitched in the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles organizations before joining the DAC as Athletic Director in 1960, was honored by speakers from professional and college football, baseball, boxing, basketball and track and field.

Speakers included four Heisman winners -- Steve Owens, Jim Plunkett, Johnny Rodgers and Pete Dawkins -- along with former Brooklyn Dodgers pitching star Carl Erskine, Hall of Fame boxing referee Arthur Mercante, former New York Jets star Greg Buttle, Olympic gold medalist Diane Dixon, noted sports cartoonist Bill Gallo and pro basketball commentator John Andariese. Chris Fowler of ESPN was the moderator of the Heisman segment of the program.

Riska was presented with a letter of recognition from New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Howard Golden, the president of Riska's home borough of Brooklyn, issued a proclamation declaring Friday, "Rudy Riska Day".

Frank Torre also spoke on behalf of his brother, Joe, the New York Yankees manager and a long-time friend of Riska's. The guest list included a number of sports luminaries -- former New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen, former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca, former Yankees Rick Cerone and Phil Linz, former Mets Art Shamsky and Joe Pignatano and former New York Giants coach Allie Sherman.

Other Heisman winners attending were Joe Bellino, Jay Berwanger, Hop Cassady, John David Crow, Glenn Davis, Leon Hart, Desmond Howard, John Huarte, Johnny Lattner, George Rogers, Mike Rozier, Rashaan Salaam, Gino Torretta and Charles White.