Pro Football Hall of Fame to recognize Stark County's influence on game with new exhibit

'Stark County Proud!' to feature artifacts, programming to tell stories of journey from high school to professional football

A new exhibit opening this month at the Pro Football Hall of Fame will recognize the profound influence individuals from Stark County have made on the game from its formative years to the present day.

Using artifacts — including the Bronze Busts of five men from this region — as well as interactive displays, multimedia storytelling and eye-catching graphics, “Stark County Proud!” will detail numerous ways players, coaches and contributors from this area left their imprint on the sport.

A ribbon-cutting for the new exhibit is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Families of the Pro Football Hall of Famers from Stark County have been invited as special guests. Other NFL Legends who hail from Stark County also will be on hand. Visitors to the museum can experience the new exhibit, set inside the museum in the first gallery to tour, after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“ ‘Stark County Proud!’ is the Hall of Fame’s way of saying thank you to the individuals from this area who have contributed not only to the game on the field but also to those who dedicated themselves to the formation and building of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum more than 60 years ago, making it a national landmark in our community,” said Jim Porter, president & CEO of the Hall. “Football has been woven into the fabric of Stark County for more than a century, and this exhibit will tap into that nostalgia while also celebrating players from today who are contributing to the sport we love.”

Fittingly, the centerpieces of the “Stark County Proud!” exhibit are the cornerstones of the Hall of Fame’s museum: Bronze Busts. The likenesses of PAUL BROWN, LEN DAWSON, DAN DIERDORF, MARION MOTLEY and ALAN PAGE will be front and center in the exhibit, with each Hall of Famer also receiving a dedicated display showcasing artifacts from his storied career. 

The exhibit will explain “Why Canton?” — why the Pro Football Hall of Fame calls Stark County home. The 1920s-era Hupmobile will make its return to the museum to help tell that story, as well as artifacts related to the NFL’s founding and early pro teams, including the Canton Bulldogs and Massillon Tigers. 

An interactive kiosk will highlight the 97 NFL Legends who played high school football in Stark County. Artifacts from the Timken and Belden families, William Umstattd, Earl Schreiber and others — individuals who played special and significant roles in bringing the Pro Football Hall of Fame to their home county — also will be part of the exhibit. 

Special programming will be scheduled throughout the entirety of the exhibit’s run, which continues through the end of February. Details will be announced soon.

Guests can experience “Stark County Proud!” as part of their regular admission to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The museum is open daily, except Christmas Day, until next Thanksgiving. For more information and to plan a visit, click here.