Vince Lombardi to be Honored by Pro Football Hall of Fame Oct 2

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Vince Lombardi, Hometown Hall of Famer
Vince Lombardi, Hometown Hall of Famer

Legendary Packers football coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Vince Lombardi, is going to be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at his H.S. alma mater in New York with a special ceremony and plaque presentation.

This event at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York, is part of “Hometown Hall of Famers™,” a national program honoring the hometown roots of the sport’s greatest coaches, players, and contributors.

John Lombardi, Vince’s grandson, will be on-hand at the ceremony to accept the plaque on his grandfather’s behalf and say a few words about his legacy.

Here is the full Press Release:

National Program Recognizes Pro Football’s Greatest Legends in their Hometown Communities

Canton, Ohio – Sept. 25, 2013 – Pro football legend Vince Lombardi will be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance Company in Queens, New York, on Wednesday, Oct. 2, as part of “Hometown Hall of Famers™,” a national program honoring the hometown roots of the sport’s greatest coaches, players, and contributors with special ceremonies and plaque dedication events in local communities.

“’Hometown Hall of Famers™’ has been warmly embraced by communities and Hall of Famers alike,” said George Veras, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises president and CEO. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Allstate to bring the Pro Football Hall of Fame to communities across the country and congratulate the late Vince Lombardi and St. Francis Preparatory School on bringing a piece of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Queens.”

A legendary NFL coach and former high school standout at St. Francis Preparatory School, Lombardi will be honored with his “Hometown Hall of Famer™” plaque during a special ceremony at 1:25 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the school’s auditorium, located at 6100 Francis Lewis Blvd., Fresh Meadows, NY, where the plaque will live permanently to serve as an inspiration for the school’s students and athletes. John Lombardi, Vince’s grandson, will be on-hand to accept the plaque on behalf of the Lombardi family.

“To be part of a program that brings the prestige and tradition of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to communities like Queens is an honor for Allstate, our agents and employees,” said Lisa Cochrane, Allstate’s senior vice president of marketing.
The ceremony will be attended by St. Francis Preparatory School students, faculty, staff, alumni and Lombardi’s family members and close friends. Kyle Flood, Rutgers University head football coach and St. Francis alumnus, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

In addition to the plaque, a commemorative Vince Lombardi “Hometown Hall of Famers™” road sign will be on display in Queens.

After serving as the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants for five years, Lombardi accepted the head coaching position with the dispirited Green Bay Packers in 1959. Lombardi had an immediate and profound impact on the team helping them turn their 1-10-1 record to 7-5 in his first year as coach.

Under Lombardi’s direction, the Packers went on to dominate the NFL over the next eight years, winning six divisional and five NFL championships, and achieving victories in Super Bowls I and II. Known for his stylish, thorough and imaginative craftsmanship on offense, Lombardi never had a losing season throughout his career.

Lombardi retired as the Packers coach in 1968, but retained his general manager duties. In 1969, he signed on as head coach of the Washington Redskins. In his one year with Washington, Lombardi broke the Redskins’ string of 14 losing seasons and laid the foundation for Washington’s early 1970s success.

The 1959 AP NFL Coach of the Year was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1975 and is a member of the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame.

Lombardi passed away in 1970 at the age of 57. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

Fans can visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame website for more information on the “Hometown Hall of Famers™” program, and can view event videos at www.youtube.com/allstate.

About the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Enterprises
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is dedicated to educating, preserving, and honoring the great individuals and moments that have shaped the sport’s history with the largest collection in the world of artifacts and documents. The Hall of Fame is celebrating its 50 Years 2012-13. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises represents the Pro Football Hall of Fame and its members in the creation of commercial ventures, featuring Hall of Famers to serve the mission of the PFHOF to enable football fans and the general public to have greater access and interactions with Hall of Famers and the Hall of Fame.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.comwww.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate®, and are widely known through the slogan “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®.” As part of Allstate’s commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.

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8 thoughts on “Vince Lombardi to be Honored by Pro Football Hall of Fame Oct 2

  1. Thanks Al for letting us know about this honor for coach Lombardi. As a Packer fan who grew up in NY City, and began to follow Lombardi’s Packers in the ’60s I believe that Vince Lombardi deserves every honor that he can get. For those who bemoan the Packer’s current O-line issues watch films of Lombardi’s offensive line come off the ball as one on every play, very few penalties or missed blocks. Also, I recommend that all Packers read the Lombardi biography “When Pride Still Mattered”. Probably the best sports biography I have read and one of the best biographies of anyone period. Thanks, Since’61

  2. It always amazes me that folks from all corners of the planet come to cheer for little old green bay. How’d you come to be a packer fan, Since ’61?

    1. Hi Tim -thanks for asking. I became a Packer fan watching the Packers play the NY Giants in the 1961 title game in Green Bay. Most of my family were Giants fans. No surprise, we were New Yorkers and the Giants were on a great run in the late 50’s. However, my grandfather, from Italy, upset that the Giants let Lombardi go, predicted that Lombardi would be the Giants. As you probably know the Packers won 37-0 to gain their 1st NFl championship under Lombardi. I was 7 years old and did not yet know much about football but I knew that 37-0 was pretty much a slaughter in any sport. During the 1962,season I followed the Packers through their 13-1 regular season and predicted that the Packers would beat the Giants again in the title game. They did 16-7. I have looked back. I was a big Paul Hornung fan then. I thought he was cool since he was one of the only players who wore a single number (5). Plus he could do anything and any position on the field, a true football, long before the age of specialists. Anyway, live in New Jersey now, a Packer fan in my 53rd season and a stock holder. Go Pack Go. Thanks, Since ’61

  3. My first memories of the pack were from 1965, the Packer- Cleveland championship & the muddy field. Horning was late in his career with the packers but had a good game. Starr, Carroll Dale, Adderly, Davis, Robinson Jordan… On and on and on – my fingers will get tired trying to name them all – man they had a lot of great players then. I recall more from the first two superbowl years. Taylor and Horning were pretty much at the end of their careers, but a young speedy return guy, Travis Williams caught my imagination. Back then, that kind of speed seemed rare. Anyway. I became a die hard then, and through all those lean years after Lombardi. The greatness of Lombardi was never more apparent than after he left coaching. Packer fans beware, enjoy it while its here – it can get much worse than the little bump in the road we just experienced. I appreciate McCarthy And Thompson more because of those years I think, MM’s no Lombardi, there won’t be another one of those, but pretty good.

    It was natural for me to be a packer fan, I grew up in western Wisconsin, my dad and most everybody was a rabid packers fans largely because of the success and excellence Lombardi brought to the club. I like to hear how packer fans came to be, especially when its not the natural allegiance.

    Thanks ’61, I like your story.

    1. Thanks Tim- that’s the great thing about the blog, we can all participate in the Packer community. My business has taken me all over the world and I’ve met Packer fans in Europe, Asia, Australia and most recently in Brazil. I met a fan who saw my Packer iPhone case and he told that he went to college in Madison and became a Packers fan. He returned to Brazil but found a place where he can watch most of the Packer’s games. Amazing! See you on the blog. Since’61

  4. A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I believe that you should write more about this topic, it might not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t discuss these issues. To the next! Cheers!!

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