FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 09/05/2019

WEEKLY “NOTES & NUGGETS” FROM THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME BLACK HALL OF FAME CLASSIC; NFL’S 100TH SEASON; HALL WINS 12TH ANNUAL PINNACLE AWARD FROM CILC; FROM THE ARCHIVES: PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMERS FROM HBCUs

CANTON, OHIO – The following is a sampling of events, happenings and notes that highlight how the Pro Football Hall of Fame serves its important Mission to “Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE!”

BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASSIC The Pro Football Hall of Fame hosted the inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic over Labor Day weekend.

Twenty members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) gathered prior to the inaugural BCFHOF Classic game between Alabama A&M and Morehouse College at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, September 1, 2019.

Front Row (L-R): , Kenny Houston, , Billy Joe, , Everson Walls, Parnell Dickinson, , , Ken Riley, Charlie Neal, , and .

Back Row (L-R): , James Harris, , Ed “Too Tall” Jones, , , and Bill Hayes.

September 16-19, 2020 A once-in-every- other-lifetime celebration to kick off the NFL’s next century in the city where the league was born.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new BCFHOF Gallery inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame (PFHOF) was held on Saturday, August 31, 2019. The event was part of the first-ever BCFHOF Classic that included a variety of events highlighted by a game between Alabama A&M and Morehouse College.

Left to right: BCFHOF Co-Founder James “Shack” Harris; Alabama A&M President Andrew Hugine, Jr.; Morehouse President David A. Thomas; Retired PFHOF Executive Director Joe Horrigan; and Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker. Looking on are Charles Davis and Steve Wyche, longtime supporters of the BCFHOF and part of the NFL Network team that called the game between Alabama A&M and Morehouse; and BCFHOF member Ed “Too Tall” Jones.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE’S 100TH SEASON KICKS OFF IN CHICAGO The Pro Football Hall of Fame is home to the world’s largest collection on pro football in the world. Each year, the collection grows as artifacts from milestone moments from the current NFL season arrive in Canton. Tonight, the Chicago Bears take on the at Soldier Field. After the game, the football used on the opening kickoff of the NFL’s 100th Season opener will make its way to Canton where it will be preserved for future generations to see.

The Hall’s Youth & Education Team took the Heart of a Hall of “There never is a wrong time Famer Program Powered by Extreme Networks on the road to do the right thing and with Pro Football Hall of Famer and Bears Legend DAN there is never a right time to HAMPTON. Yesterday (Sept. 4), Hampton spoke to students do the wrong thing. So, as at the new Englewood STEM High School in Chicago. you go down life’s highway, Additionally, students connected via video conference from remember that your destiny is Rock Island (Ill.) High School; Rushville (Ill.) Industry High only controlled by you and School; St. Mary School from Massillon, Ohio; Toronto (Ohio) hard work is the fuel that will City Schools; and The Learning Center from Chester, S.C. get you there.”

– Hampton shared what it took beyond athletic ability to achieve success on and off the field while focusing on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s core values of Commitment, Integrity, Courage, Respect and Excellence.

September 16-19, 2020 A once-in-every- other-lifetime celebration to kick off the NFL’s next century in the city where the league was born.

HALL WINS 12TH ANNUAL PINNACLE AWARD FROM THE CENTER FOR INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND COLLABORATION The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) recently announced the winners of the 12th Annual Pinnacle Award. The Pro Football Hall of Fame was among the list of winners which also included the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National World War II Museum.

The Pinnacle Award recognizes CILC content providers from around the world who have received outstanding ratings on program evaluations completed by educators and activity directors. Winners of the award have delivered remarkable quality educational content and demonstrated exceptional skill at program delivery.

This is the ninth year the Hall has been named a winner of the Pinnacle Award which was established in 2008. The Hall also received honorable mention once.

Additional information about the CILC can be found at https://www.cilc.org/ABOUT-US/History.aspx.

FROM THE , JR. PRO FOOTBALL RESEARCH & PRESERVATION CENTER: The Ralph Wilson, Jr. Pro Football Research & Preservation Center is home to the world’s largest collection on football including a personal legacy archive on every player who has competed in the NFL since its founding in 1920. Contained inside the archives are more than 40 million pages of documents and six million photographic images.

Staff help a variety of patrons from fans, researchers, authors, and students as well as serving as a resource of information to the , its 32 clubs and members of the media.

PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMERS FROM HBCUs Thirty (30) members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including more than 10% of the players enshrined in Canton, are from an Historically Black College or University. All but two ( and who briefly attended an HBCU before transferring to another college) are also members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

The complete list can be downloaded at: https://profootballhof.box.com/s/1kmz2mzqxnyo3xpudzodzkb4w72s3erc

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September 16-19, 2020 A once-in-every- other-lifetime celebration to kick off the NFL’s next century in the city where the league was born.

CONTACTS: Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Senior Vice President of Communications [email protected]; 330-588-3622

Rachel Gutting, Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives [email protected]; 330-588-3671

ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution with the Mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. AAM accreditation is national recognition for the museum’s commitment to excellence and the highest professional standards of museum operation and public service.

Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience “The Most Inspiring Place on Earth!” that chronicles America’s most popular sport. Fans can also enjoy the Hall of Fame Store at the Hall, and online at www.profootballhof.com/store, for merchandise from all 32 NFL clubs plus the Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the Store support the Hall’s Mission.

Construction on Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a mixed-use development project, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus.

@ProFootballHOF

September 16-19, 2020 A once-in-every- other-lifetime celebration to kick off the NFL’s next century in the city where the league was born.