LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Five new members of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame have been chosen, it was announced at a press conference Friday, Feb. 2.
The 2018 inductees include four former or current pro football standouts with Kentucky ties -- ex-UK head coach Guy Morriss (pictured with his family), Ernest Givins, Tim Lester and Wesley Woodyard -- and a former NFL referee Tommy Bell.
The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame summer event, benefiting the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of the Bluegrass, will take place in Lexington with a ring ceremony on Thursday, June 21 at a location to be determined and a golf outing fundraiser at Kearney Hills Golf Links, and then the official induction ceremony at the Lexington Opera House on Friday, June 22.
“Kentucky is the only state in the country with a pro football hall of fame,” said Dr. Steve R. Parker, chair of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, Inc. board of directors. “We’re in a unique position to recognize great accomplishments in football, but also have as our main objective to offer financial assistance to organizations that enrich the lives of children.”
Proceeds from the 2018 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony and golf outing will support the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of the Bluegrass.
“We, at The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, are excited about the opportunity to join with the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame to enhance our ability to impact youth in our community," said executive director Scott Van Fossen. "The Kentucky Pro football Hall of Fame consists of highly motivated, highly successful individuals who have a passion for investing in kids, just like we do. We believe this opportunity will allow us to increase and improve the numerous activities we make available to our club members every day and also allow our club members to meet and be inspired by some of their heroes.
"We thank the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame for this opportunity and look forward to all that we might accomplish together for the youth of Lexington."
Added Parker, “We’re excited about our relationship with Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of the Bluegrass whose purpose is to increase the quality of life for children from Kentucky and throughout the world."
Also, during the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame event in June, former Pittsburgh Steelers star Jerome Bettis will receive the 12th annual Blanton Collier Award for Integrity, which is named after the former UK and Cleveland Browns coach.
The award recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding integrity both on and off the field. Bettis was a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1996-2005. He is also a Walton Payton NFL Man of the Year, six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XL champion.
Members of the 2018 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame class
Meanwhile, the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame is sponsoring the Kentucky Collegiate All Commonwealth Team, whiich is a preseason recognition award for football players attending a Kentucky college or university. The purpose of the award is to promote college football in the state of Kentucky and to appropriately honor those players whose leadership on the field and in the classroom demonstrates the potential leadership in the game of life. The members of the Kentucky Collegiate All Commonwealth Team will receive their awards during the induction ceremony on June 22.
During the fall, the Hall of Fame members visit Kentucky college and university football games to recognize members of the All Commonwealth Team.
Sponsorship packages for the 2018 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony and golf outing as well as golf teams are currently available through the Hall of Fame office at 859-276-3488. Tickets for the ceremony will be available online in May at www.kyprofootballhof.org.
(Thanks to Kay Collier McLaughlin for the Photo)
