Pro football hall of fame enshrinement speech
July 28, 1979

I would like to send along my regrets that Mr. Halas couldn't make it here today and hope for a speedy recovery and I understand he is leaving the hospital today and he will be home and I hope he will be able to watch this.

I sincerely thank you, Pete Elliott, for giving me the honor of being my presenter, and secondly for the instrumental part you played as coach at the University of Illinois. To be truthful, I dreamed of being a great football player as far back as I can remember. I decided to take one step at a time and wouldn't settle for less. I knew God had given me the physical aspects needed, now it was up to me. So I began to follow my career and my dream first at Chicago Vocational High School and after meeting and being coached by Mr. Bernie O'Brien I knew I had meant something special. I thank you Bernie O'Brien for your guidance as a coach and most of all your friendship.

Then I went up to the University of Illinois. Was starting to gain confidence in myself as a football player and with the many hours of help from Coach Bill Taylor and the Hall's own Pete Elliott, the Illini went on to win the 1964 Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl as it turned out was the only major post-season game I participated in my whole football career. Thank you Bill Taylor and Pete Elliott for being an important part of my life. I felt good, I felt my goal and my dream was in sight when I entered professional football. Finally, after eight years of preparation, my opportunity was before me. Yes, I was secretly afraid I would stumble and I did many times. There were times I needed more energy and more strength and more vitality to do all that I felt I must do. Anxiety and apprehension would fill my mind. I knew my family, coaches, fans and also first of all, my God was counting on me. I also felt that there was something so great in me that nothing in this world could defect me or hold me back if I kept myself humbly in contact with these people. So I tried to meet each problem intelligently and each difficulty courageously while I played as a Chicago Bear. I was very proud to be a Chicago Bear and I would certainly like to thank Mr. Halas along with Abe Gibron, Don Schinnick, George Allen, Joe Fortunato, Bill George and many others of their organization who helped and understood me during those nine years.

I am so happy that my beautiful mother is here to be able to share with us this meaning of today. For she and my father, who passed away several years ago, were always beside me. They were always sensitive to my needs as a player and as their youngest son. So I would like to give a smile and a wave to my mother. My sisters, Alberta and Lenore, my brothers John, Ron, Don, and Dave also I felt were my greatest fans. Their love and loyalty to me as a player and a brother will also be appreciated by me. The biggest thank you comes to my wife, Helen. I have come to realize that during my playing days that her lonesomeness and much of the lonely times meant the same to both of us. She was always there waiting for me with that open love that I really needed. Home with my wife and children, Ricky, Nikki, and Matthew always makes me feel at peace. So thank you Helen for being my greatest fan and most of all, my best friend.

I consider being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the top of my dream. For only on the top can I see the whole view. And I can now see what I have done and what I can do from now on. I have a new vision and a new goal now and that is simply to be a better husband and a better father and a better person. Along with the other enshrinees, I will always try to be a proud representative of this the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thank you very much.