Tennessee school librarian is newest Packers FAN Hall of Fame member

Richard Ryman
Green Bay Press Gazette

GREEN BAY – Kari Bernier is well-positioned to influence young minds in the heart of Tennessee Titans country.

Bernier, a Wisconsin native now living in Dyersburg, Tenn., is the 22nd and newest Packers FAN Hall of Fame member. She is passionate about the Packers and spreading the message in the Volunteer State, and as a school librarian who owns a therapy dog named "Starr," she is generating new Packers fans.

Her proselytizing started with her husband, Brandon, who nominated her for the hall of fame.

"He didn't even watch football before he met me," she said.

Kari Bernier, of Dyersburg, Tenn., speaks at the podium after being named the 2019 Packers FAN Hall of Fame inductee on Feb. 17, 2020, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

At her school, the students either give her a hard time or say they like the Packers. Recently, one of the hard-time students came to school with a Packers' "G" shaved into his hair.

When people ask why her dog's name is spelled with two R's, she responds with "let me tell you ..." — and they get a history lesson on Packers Hall of Famer Bart Starr.

In his nomination essay, Brandon wrote, "On a recent game day, one of our friends witnessed my wife meet other Pack fans throughout the day, seeing the standard 'Go Pack Go' exchanges and said, 'You part of some cult?'"

Bernier believes that more than with any other teams, Packers fans enjoy being around one another. 

"I don't know that I deserve it as much as everybody else," she said. "There is something special about Packers fans."

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The photo on her plaque shows her held above the ground by four Packers fans during a game at Lambeau Field. She didn't know them but thought they looked cool dressed to the nines in their Packers regalia.

"I said I had to get a picture with them and before I knew it, they were lifting me up," she said.

Kari Bernier, of Dyersburg, Tenn., reacts after being named the 2019 Packers FAN Hall of Fame inductee on Feb. 17, 2020, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

She was a Packers fan from before her own memory, apparently. Her parents told her that when she was a toddler she would sit in a small wicker chair and watch Packers games. 

Tennessee friends don't say negative things about the Packers around her.

"I'm a little vocal in my fandom," Bernier said. "I've taken out people bigger than me on this."

The 10 finalists were chosen from more than 100 nominations.

The other finalists were Dr. Gordon Dammann  of Lena, Ill.; Jeff Gasser of Coleman; Kathy Fermanich of New London; Leo DeGroot of West Bend; Carole Gutowski of Green Bay; Bob Pinzl of Waukesha; Mark Ames of Spruce, Mich.; Bill Hughes of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; and Roger Cassem of Midlothian, Va.

"The reality is, were it not for the support of our fans, the Packers organization wouldn't be here and the Packers wouldn't be in Green Bay," said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy. "This award and this hall of fame really captures the spirit of our fans. We see that in the letters we receive from family members and others in support of the nominations."

Bernier was selected by Packers fans, previous FAN Hall of Fame honorees and the Packers' selection committee. Nominations included an essay, and the finalists were chosen by a Packers' selection committee. More than 60,000 votes were cast.

Kari Bernier, 2019 Packers FAN Hall of Fame inductee, and her husband, Brandon, have their photo taken at Lambeau Field on Feb. 17, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis.

Bernier will receive four club seats to a 2020 Packers home game; a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate; a road trip for two to a 2020 Packers away game, including game tickets, airfare and hotel accommodations; and a one-year subscription to Packers Plus. In addition, Bernier will have her name permanently displayed in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin|LocaliQ and Robert Haack Diamonds sponsor the Packers FAN Hall of Fame.

Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at  @rrymanPG or  on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/