The NEFGM Hall of Fame – Innovators

A person who introduces new methods, ideas, or products.
In ELECTRIC FOOTBALL that would be the persons who have been the creators and inventors of the games and products used to play the games, the persons who have created the methods of playing the game and the new ideas for promoting the game and hobby.

Electric Football was created by Norman Sas of Tudor Metal Products, Corporation in the late 1940’s and introduced to the Toy and Game market at New York’s Toy Fair in 1949.

Eugene Levay, an employee of Tudor Metal Products Corporation, was granted US Patent 2,167,985 on August 1,1939 for a Vibrating Propelling Device. It was this patent that was used by Norman Sas in creating the game of ELELCTRIC FOOTBALL.

Not much is known about Gene Levay other than he was running the company with Elmer Sas, the father of Norman Sas, prior to 1947. He also holds a number of other patents related to the toy industry.

Gotham Pressed Steel entered the ELECTRIC FOOTBALL Game market in 1954. It was run by a former employee of Tudor, Eddie Gluck. Gotham was the first to offer NFL Electric Football Games beginning in 1961.

Gotham had a number of firsts in electric football with the NFL G-1500:

1. First officially licensed NFL electric football game.
2. First “big” electric football at 36″ long.
3. First game with a sideline grandstand.
4. First player “uniforms.”
5. First electric football game to be shown in full color in the Sears Christmas Book

It has been speculated that “without the Gotham G-1500, we might not still be talking about electric football in 2013.” – theunforgettablebuzz.com April 23, 2013

The following is another article from theunforgettablebuzz.com September 25, 2012

The Mystery Man of Tudor and Electric Football – Joe Modica

Most electric football aficionados know that Norman Sas invented the game, and that Lee Payne took the design of electric football to levels of realism that were only once dreamed of. But there was another person who played the designer role in between Norman’s initial inventing and Lee’s arrival at Tudor.

That person was Joe Modica.

Joe Modica’s official job description was Tudor plant manager. But there must have been more, as Mr. Modica has a number of patents on file in Washington, D.C., including patents for the plastic overlay found on Tudor’s horse and auto race games of the late-50’s and early 60’s (Patent No. 3,011,787). He also has the patent on Tudor’s unique high-top clad basketball shooter-figure (Patent No. 2,827,035).

In electric football Modica’s most significant contribution was Patent No. 2,772,512. That patent was submitted for the newly designed electric football players that Tudor introduced in 1955. Thanks to Modica’s creativity Tudor began making players in two different poses: the down lineman, and the upright running back – a player that could actually hold the ball in his arm. Though not of Lee Payne caliber, they are the first 3-D electric football players.

The mystery comes from the fact that, as can be seen from the patents, Mr. Modica designed some very sophisticated pieces. Yet according to Norman Sas and Lee Payne, Mr. Modica was more than happy to step aside when Lee started working for Tudor. It seems he preferred being plant manager rather than company inventor. It is our understanding that Mr. Modica continued working for Tudor until he retired in the 1980’s.

Joe Modica’s contributions to electric football are not to be underestimated. His innovations were vital to the entire Tudor line. They played a major role in Tudor’s success during a period when Gotham Pressed Steel stepped forward as a serious action game competitor.

Little is known about Joe Modica, but I was able to find the following picture and biographical information.

Known for his kind, caring personality, he loved to laugh, watch his beloved Wildcats, travel the country and the world, and enjoy great food. Those who were close to him know how proud he was of his Italian heritage.

Although this is not the “OFFICIAL” first class of INNOVATORS in the NEFGM HALL of FAME, these are certainly the ones that should be. These are the men who created the game and gave us the technology that made the game what it was and still is in 2026.