My first trip to HOF

[Diehardblues]

I was just a young teenager in high school riding with my family on a summer vacation headed to Toronto for a life insurance convention.

We took summer vacations every summer and this was only one I recall that was driven by his work that we attended. Usually just he and mother would attend these business type conventions but he thought this would be a good opportunity to see this part of the country which we drove thru many places for the first time to sight see like Graceland in Memphis, the Arc in St Louis, Indianapolis 500 race track and Canton was a site along the way seeing the Great Lakes and Niagara Falls before crossing the Canadian border for the first time.

Canton in summer of 1970 was just the original building most connect to visually not its much expanded version now. There were no Cowboys in the HOF except for DC Ernie Stautner inducted as a Steeler.

My most notable inductees at that time were Jim Thorpe who I had written my first book report on in 4th grade and read all of his books as he’s considered the greatest athlete all time. And Sammy Baugh who my grandfather had always considered the greatest football player as he watched him in high school and at TCU.

Other notable there were George Halas the Bears original owner and long time HC. And Red Grange. That’s about all I recall on that visit. There wasn’t much else to see. It had only been open for 6 or 7 years. It only took us about an hour to walk thru and we were on our way. I still have a pennant souvenir I bought that hangs in my sports cave.

I had planned to return last year on my 50th anniversary of my first visit with two Cowboys going in with Cliff and Jimmy but the current situation prevented . When this is all over I plan on returning and spending some time in the area also going to see Rock and Roll HOF. And I want to see the Horseshoe in Columbus where my uncle once played #1 Ohio State catching a tying TD. As he often described as most amazing crowd he played in front of.

 

[Diehardblues]

Most of the HOF focus since there weren’t many players was about the Packers and Bears history and the early days of professional football. Many of which most fans aren’t even familiar with.

Remember we hadn’t even played in a Super Bowl yet and our home stadium was still the Cotton Bowl. My last attended game at that time was 1969 Thanksgiving game in which I still have a stub . Only $5 for a reserved seat. My only stub from Cotton Bowl. Dad and my uncle would get season tickets for Texas Stadium which didn’t open until 1971.

I was already a huge and devoted fan of not only the Cowboys but the NFL and college football. My favorite Cowboys at that time was Bob Lilly, who was a family acquaintance, Calvin Hill , and Bob Hayes. Meredith had just retired. Roger wouldn’t become my favorite until the next year or two.

My favorite overall players at that time was probably Joe Namath, Jim Brown and Johnny Unitas although I didn’t root for their teams . Just loved watching some of the greats at that time. As a young teenager and kinda of a rebel myself Namath was larger than life in the late 60’s. An iconic figure for my generation. And Unitas was an early influence since he was my dads favorite player. Dad was in the Navy and saw him play in Baltimore in late 50’s. Colts were dads team until Dallas landed their own team.

I’ll never forget asking Dad who he was for in Super Bowl V. He said he was for Cowboys . And he had become a Cowboy fan first by then but I think he found some comfort in Unitas coming in to pull that game out.

 

[Diehardblues]

The Packers were considered the elite franchise after winning 5 championships in the 60’s. Green Bay is called Title Town USA and have their own HOF which I attended in 1989 when I attended a Cowboys game with the newly Cowboys Travel Club Jethro implemented. Lambeau Field definitely the most historical stadium now in the league.

If you ever attend a game anywhere on the road Green Bay is the place. And their fans are the class of the league. I’ve been to several road venues and nowhere greeted us with as much respect as in Green Bay. They are the only road venue in which I’ve included memorabilia in my sports cave.

My uncle almost played for Packers. Lombardi offered him a FA contract back in 1961 but 1,000 signing bonus and 10,000 a year contract wasn’t enough to move his family to Green Bay.

He had a turf toe his senior year and wasn’t drafted. It did prevent him from being drafted into the Arm Forces . He begun selling life insurance after graduating. And with his celebrity sports contacts and being a scratch golfer begun playing at the Pro Am at PGA events in Dallas and Ft Worth where he met pro golfers , celebrities and businessman which he begun selling insurance too . And he and my father eventually formed their own independent insurance company.

This afforded me much access to professional athletes and celebrities as I begun working in the accounting department . I also played golf so met many as well as attending the Colonial which my uncle played at every year for a couple decades.

 

[Jake]

I had planned to return last year on my 50th anniversary of my first visit with two Cowboys going in with Cliff and Jimmy but the current situation prevented . When this is all over I plan on returning and spending some time in the area also going to see Rock and Roll HOF. And I want to see the Horseshoe in Columbus where my uncle once played #1 Ohio State catching a tying TD. As he often described as most amazing crowd he played in front of.

As a native Ohioan who still lives here, and has been to the HOF and the Horseshoe (OSU alum) dozens of times, let me know when you're up this way.

I'm due for another HOF visit, now that Jimmy, Cliff, and Drew's busts are there.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

As a native Ohioan who still lives here, and has been to the HOF and the Horseshoe (OSU alum) dozens of times, let me know when you're up this way.

I'm due for another HOF visit, now that Jimmy, Cliff, and Drew's busts are there.

I'm actually moving to Cleveland in a few weeks.