2007
Hub Meeds
TJ Johnson-Gjallarhorn creator
Rick Craft-Citizen responder (-35)
Chuck Foreman-Vikings Ring of Honor
Bud Grant-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Jerry Burns-Vikings Ring of Honor
Carl Eller-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
John Kriesel-Honored War Veteran
Mark Parrish-Wild All-Star right wing
Joe Mauer-Twins All-Star catcher
2008
Dennis Koslowski-Olympic medalist-wrestling
Ron Stolski-Brainerd High School football coach
Heath Farwell-Vikings linebacker
Robert Griffith-Vikings safety
Eric Hilgenberg-Son of former Vikings linebacker Wally Hilgenberg
Mardy Fish-Tennis pro
Shawn Johnson-Olympic Gold medalist-gymnastics
John Randle-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Paul Krause-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
100% Cheese Free (Syd Davy)-Representing Vikings fans
Robert Smith-Vikings running back
2009
Irv Cross-legendary sportscaster
Rufus Bess-Vikings cornerback
Jim Marshall-Vikings Ring of Honor
Randall McDaniel-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Brock Lesnar-UFC Heavyweight Champion
Capt. Dustin Snare-MN National Guard/Live in Iraq
Tom Kelly-Twins manager
Scott Studwell-Vikings Ring of Honor
Mick Tingelhoff-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Neal Broten-Hockey legend
Joe Kapp-Vikings quarterback
2010
Stu Voigt-Vikings tight end
Greg Coleman-Vikings punter
Gene Washington-Vikings receiver
Mike Morris-Vikings long snapper
Michael Cuddyer-Twins first baseman
Sidney Rice-Vikings receiver
Fred Zamberletti-Vikings Ring of Honor/trainer
Jeff Siemon-Vikings linebacker
2011
Rick Frahm-Local 512/dome roof repair
JT Brown-Frozen Four MVP/University of Minnesota-Duluth
Mona Dohman-Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner
Fred Cox-Vikings kicker/Nerf Football inventor
Tubby Smith-Gopher Basketball coach
Chris Doleman-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Stan ""Krusher" Kowalski-Minnesota War Vet/wrestling icon
Paul Molitor-Minnesota native/Baseball HOF
Kevin Love-Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star
Butch Clayman-Representing Vikings fans
2012
Jack Jablonski-Inspirational injured hockey player
Ted Brown-Vikings-running back
Larry Spooner-Representing Vikings fans stadium push
Josh Duhamel-actor
Flip Saunders-NBA coach
Juan Berenguer-Twins pitcher
Matt Blair-Vikings Ring of Honor
Betty Wall Strohfus-World War II aviator
John Gagliardi-St. John's University football coach
Nicholas David-Finalist of "The Voice"
2013
LeRoy Bendickson-Vikings season ticket holder/activist
Rickey Young-Vikings running back
Hubert H. Humphrey IV-grandson of Hubert H. Humphrey
David Haye-British boxer
Lindsay Whalen-Lynx All-Star
Joey Browner-Vikings Ring of Honor
Cris Carter-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Jerry Riechow-Viking player personnel
Daunte Culpepper-Vikings quarterback
Bud Grant-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
2014
SSG Patrick Loch-Minnesota Army National Guard
Derrick Langeslay-new stadium construction worker
Milt Sunde-Vikings guard
Zach Lavine-Timberwolves guard
Rose Murphy-breast cancer survivor/mother of Teddy Bridgewater
Tyrone Carter-Vikings safety
SGT Tom Block-US Army Ranger
Gary Larsen-Vikings defensive tackle
Jerry Kill-Gophers football coach
Bryan Obadzinski-longtime Vikings fan
2015
Phil Housley-NHL Hall of Fame
Maddyn Greenway-daughter of Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway
Alan Page-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Fran Tarkenton-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Minnesota Lynx-2015 WNBA Champions
Eric Marts-Army Master Sergeant, 34th Infantry Division
Devan Dubnyk-Wild goalie
Phil Loadholt-Vikings tackle
Sid Hartman-Minneapolis Star-Tribune journalist
Erick Kaler-University of Minnesota President
Rhett Ellison-Vikings tight end
2016
David Plummer-Olympic swimmer
Dave Mansell-General Superintendent, Mortenson Construction
Bud Grant-Vikings Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Randy Moss-Vikings receiver/future Ring of Honor/Pro Football Hall of Fame
Tommy Kramer-Vikings quarterback
***
Everett "Hub" Meeds was the only choice to be the first to sound the Gjallarhorn. He was "the Viking" on the sideline from 1970-1992. He was the mascot. To this itty bitty Vikings fan in the early 1970s he had one of the best jobs in the world. He got to dress as a Viking and prowl around the sidelines on game day. How could it get any better than that? The job started organically and somewhat innocently for Meeds at Super Bowl IV.
From Cold Wars: 40+ Years of Packers-Vikings Rivalry:
"My brother and I went down to the game in New Orleans," Meeds said of the Vikings' eventual 23-7 setback to Kansas City in Super Bowl IV on January 11, 1970. "We rented some Vikings costumes, went into the stadium around where the players come out and nobody said a word to us or asked for tickets or anything. So we got to see the whole thing from down on the field. "
"That spring, I wrote a letter to the team and told them what we had done and asked about doing it for their home games," Meeds added. "I got my picture with Bid Grant and everything. They didn't have anybody doing it, and eventually I got to go to all of the away games. I only missed one preseason games in all those years."
It's only fitting that Vikings legendary head coach Bud Grant is the only one to sound the horn more than once. As great as it is to see Vikings Ring of Honor members and Pro Football Hall of Famers sound the horn it probably warms me most to see former players that I haven't seen in a while. Players like Milt Sunde, Jeff Siemon, Rufus Bess, Fred Cox, and Jeff Siemon. When Tommy Kramer was tapped for the Houston Texans game earlier this month the Vikings were honoring many former Vikings players. It was a Homecoming Weekend. Many were there with Ring of Honor purple coats. Kramer was a sometimes throwing star for the Vikings throughout the 1980s. If he hadn't been injured so often he might be wearing a purple coat as well. He was that sort of talent. It was great to see him again.
The Gjallarhorn has become a great and fun Minnesota Vikings tradition.
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