The Haggar Gold Jacket Report - Issue 14

The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance Company honored two Hall of Famers in the Hall’s own backyard this week as part of the Hometown Hall of Famers™ initiative. The national program recognizes the hometown roots of pro football’s greatest players with special ceremonies and plaque dedication events in local communities.

"Honoring the hometowns that helped create the foundation for Hall of Famers' pathway to the Hall will be truly special as these plaques will live forever in their hometown communities," said George Veras, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises president and CEO. "The Hall of Fame is pleased that Allstate has recognized the significance of this program and given all of us - the players, their communities and the Pro Football Hall of Fame - a chance to celebrate the hometown stories of these legendary professional football players."

On Monday, Apr. 16, legendary coach PAUL BROWN was recognized at Massillon Washington High School just miles from where the Hall of Fame is located. Brown played high school football and began his coaching career at Massillon.

Cincinnati Bengals President Mike Brown was on hand to accept the plaque on his late father’s behalf.

“When a reporter asked my father after he had retired what his favorite job was, he didn’t respond with working for the Bengals or Browns, he said coaching at Massillon,” shared Mike Brown. “It wasn’t about how many games or championships he won, it mattered more about how he could make an impact off the field and he did that here in Massillon and for pro football.”

Then on Thursday, Apr. 19 Hall of Fame quarterback LEN DAWSON was honored in his hometown of Alliance, Ohio. Dawson played basketball, baseball and football at Alliance High School where he was chosen as All-Ohio in football in 1952 and All-Ohio in basketball in 1953.

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The Georgia Athletic Association paid tribute to Pro Football Hall of Famer CHARLEY TRIPPI last Friday, (Apr. 13) declaring it “Charley Trippi Day” in Athens, Ga. The event was emceed by Loran Smith, a former sideline reporter for the Bulldogs for 36 seasons.

© Dan Evans

Trippi received honors, awards and praise from several dignitaries, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Georgia House speaker David Ralston, University President Michael Adams, Bulldogs notables Vince Dooley, Greg McGarity and fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton. Also in attendance to support Trippi were Arizona Cardinals Chairman and Owner William Bidwill and club President Michael Bidwill along with representatives from both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Trippi was even presented with a brand new Maxwell Trophy for being the college football player of the year in 1946, which replaced the silver cigar box that he was given at the time.

Photo right: Charley Trippi chats with Hall of Fame quarterback and Georgia alum Fran Tarkenton and Cardinals Chairman and Owner Bill Bidwill during last Friday’s tribute.

“This is beyond my comprehension, really,” said the 89-year-old Trippi. “I never realized all this was going to happen, but it’s a great day.”

The day also coincided with the presentation of the Georgia football’s inaugural Charley Trippi Most Versatile Player Award. The trophy was presented to former cornerback Brandon Boykin, who finished his Bulldogs career last fall, by Georgia head coach Mark Richt.

“He’s an outstanding football player,” Trippi said of Boykin “He’s got tremendous speed and he knows how to find the opening. He’s the type of guy who can go all the way every time he gets the ball. Tremendous vision on the football field. He’s an exceptional athlete, really.”

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Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback BOB GRIESE served as a feature speaker at the Third Annual Consolidated Graphics’ emerge conference in New Orleans, La. His audience consisted of nearly 1,000 executives representing leading brands across the America.

“We’ve attracted keynote speakers that are experts in their respective fields, people who are committed to leading their audiences forward and building a future that shifts the status quo,” said Aaron Grohs, executive vice president, sales and marketing at Consolidated Graphics. “Emerge underscores our own commitment to push the boundaries of print technology, to think differently and to engage the support of our customers and suppliers to optimize our collective business performance.”
 

Links Related to this story:

HOF Bios:  Paul Brown | Len Dawson | Bob Griese | Fran Tarkenton | Charley Trippi
More:  Hometown Hall of Famers™ | Trippi’s College All-Star Game MVP trophy

Archived:

Issue 13 (April 13) | Issue 12 (April, 6) | Issue 11 (Mar. 30) | Issue 10 (Mar. 23) | Issue 9 (Mar.16) | Issue 8 (Mar. 9) | Issue 7 (Mar. 2) | Issue 6 (Feb. 24) | Issue 5 (Feb. 17) | Issue 4 (Feb. 10) | Issue 3 (Feb. 3) |  Issue 2 (Jan. 27) | Issue 1 (Jan. 20)