Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1966 celebrates 60-year anniversary
On Sept. 17, 1966, eight of football’s innovators (six players, one head coach and one contributor) were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Class of 1966, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, includes BILL DUDLEY, JOE GUYON, ARNIE HERBER, WALT KIESLING, GEORGE MCAFEE, STEVE OWEN, HUGH "SHORTY" RAY and CLYDE "BULLDOG" TURNER.
Dudley went wherever the football went, both offensively and defensively. Over the course of his nine-year career, he totaled 8,217 scrimmage yards, 23 interceptions and three Pro Bowl selections. In 1946, he was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player after leading the league in rushing, interceptions and punt returns for the Steelers. Dudley is remembered as one of the most versatile players in the history of the game.
Guyon’s contribution to the early days of pro football cannot be understated. He played with the legendary Jim Thorpe for five years but found most of his success and publicity without Thorpe. In 1927, he led the New York Giants to the NFL championship, flaunting his passing, running, punting and tackling skills. Guyon played an integral role in shaping the sport into what it is today.
Herber was one of the sport’s first premier quarterbacks. During his 13-year career, he was part of four NFL championship victories with the Green Bay Packers and threw for more than 8,000 yards. Herber was also half of one of football’s first dynamic duos when Hall of Famer DON HUTSON arrived in Green Bay. The quarterback-receiver tandem connected on six touchdowns in Hutson’s 1935 rookie season. Herber set the stage for future quarterbacks in the NFL.
Kiesling spent over 30 seasons as a player or coach in the NFL and is best remembered as a strong two-way guard who out-toughed his opponents on both sides of the line. His 14-year playing career was highlighted by an NFL championship in 1936 with the Green Bay Packers in addition to being part of the 1934 Bears team that went undefeated in the regular season.
McAfee weighed a mere 178 pounds when he was selected in the 1940 NFL Draft by Hall of Fame coach GEORGE HALAS. He quickly proved himself to be a dangerous runner out of the backfield, however, and a threat defensively. In eight pro seasons, he logged 5,313 scrimmage yards, intercepted 25 passes and was a part of four NFL Championship teams with the Chicago Bears.
Owen started his football career as a player, competing for the New York Giants, most notably, and won the 1927 NFL Championship with the team in one of his final seasons as a player. In 1933, Owen fully committed himself to coaching and stayed with the Giants for more than 20 years as the head coach. He led the Giants to two NFL titles: 1934 and 1938. Owen ended his coaching career with an overall record of 155-108-17.
The game of football would not be the same without Ray, who served as the NFL’s Supervisor of Officials from 1938 to 1952 and played an integral role in how officiating evolved. Player safety and pace of play both drastically improved during Ray’s tenure at the NFL. His work with every team and league official set a foundation for officiating for the sport fans love today.
Turner spent his entire 13-year career with the Chicago Bears and boasts a stacked resume: four NFL championships, seven All-NFL selections and 138 total games played. He competed as a center and linebacker and was known for being an outstanding blocker. When Turner retired, he was considered one of the best offensive linemen of his era.
