Ray Lewis to Receive Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence During Week 3 Baltimore Ravens to Pay Tribute to Hall of Famer During Special Ceremony
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 09/20/2018 RAY LEWIS TO RECEIVE HALL OF FAME RING OF EXCELLENCE DURING WEEK 3 BALTIMORE RAVENS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO HALL OF FAMER DURING SPECIAL CEREMONY CANTON, OHIO – The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Kay® Jewelers, the Official Jewelry Store of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will honor Hall of Famer RAY LEWIS on Sunday, Sept. 23 when the Baltimore Ravens host the Denver Broncos. Fans at the Week 3 matchup will witness Class of 2018 Enshrinee Lewis receive his Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence during a special halftime presentation. The Hall’s President & CEO David Baker will be joined by Hall of Famer and Ravens’ General Manager and Executive Vice President OZZIE NEWSOME to present Lewis his Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence. The game is slated to kick off at 1:00 PM ET at M&T Bank Stadium. The Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence is one of three iconic symbols that represent the elite status of being a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Lewis received his Hall of Fame Gold Jacket and unveiled his Bronzed Bust during his Enshrinement this past August. HALL OF FAME RING OF EXCELLENCE The Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence is created by Kay® Jewelers, the number one jewelry store in America and the Official Jewelry Store of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The spectacular Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence is set in 14K gold with a total diamond weight of 1¾ carats. However, it is much more than a beautiful piece of jewelry. Intricate details on the ring reflect the special significance of enshrinement. • The outer diamonds create a “stadium” effect surrounding the football-shaped diamond center. • The vibrant blue gemstone was selected both for appearance and meaning, as blue is often associated with confidence, power and integrity – all traits of these incredible legendary football icons. • Lewis’ Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence is customized to reflect his unique career. A likeness of his bronzed bust, along with “Linebacker” (his position) and “1996-2012” (his years in the NFL) appear on one side while “Lewis,” the Pro Football Hall of Fame logo and “Class of 2018” are included on the other. • Additionally, a special arbormark (or engraving) appears on the inside of the ring, which is Lewis’ Enshrinee number 315. EXCERPT FROM LEWIS ENSHRINEMENT SPEECH IN AUGUST During his Enshrinement Speech at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 4, 2018, Lewis called his former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer to the podium in front of a sold-out crowd that included a large contingent of Baltimore fans. “Oh, my goodness. J.O. J.O. Where J.O.? Come here, J.O. Baltimore! Baltimore! (Cheering.) Baltimore! Baltimore! Baltimore! Baltimore! Baltimore! Baltimore! Baltimore! Ready? Go. Oh. Oh. Hey, buddy, listen, you got to do it. You got to do it. Ravens fans, Urlacher, I heard you earlier. Boy, I know Chicago has got some good fans. But, boy, them Ravens fans, I'm telling you something about them Ravens fans, they're crazy with it! They're crazy with it! (Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden dancing on stage) (Cheering.) Everybody, everybody, everybody that's sitting in this audience that's Baltimore, played in 2001, the first Super Bowl, played in 2012, coach or owner, please stand up. Please stand up.” The full video and transcript of the Lewis’ Enshrinement speech can be found on the Hall of Fame’s website at: http://www.profootballhof.com/players/ray-lewis/ BALTIMORE RAVENS IN THE HALL OF FAME (2) – RAY LEWIS, Jonathan Ogden LINEBACKERS IN THE HALL OF FAME (29) – Chuck Bednarik (also C), Bobby Bell (also DE), ROBERT BRAZILE, Derrick Brooks, Nick Buoniconti, Dick Butkus, Harry Carson, George Connor (also DT/T), Bill George, Kevin Greene, Jack Ham, Chris Hanburger, Ted Hendricks, Sam Huff, Rickey Jackson (also DE), Jack Lambert, Willie Lanier, RAY LEWIS, Ray Nitschke, Les Richter, Dave Robinson, Joe Schmidt, Junior Seau, Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas, Andre Tippett, BRIAN URLACHER, Dave Wilcox PHOTOS: Images of Lewis’ Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence may be downloaded for editorial purposes only. ©Pro Football Hall of Fame. https://profootballhof.box.com/s/pg6z4zxlzc10l3gfzd8fg3hzgqffwiy2 ### CONTACTS: Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Senior Vice President of Communications [email protected]; 330-588-3622 Rachel Gutting, Communications Coordinator [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. The Pro Football Hall of Fame, also voted Top Tourist Attraction in Ohio, was named the Best Attraction for Sports Fans in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest. Construction on Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, an $889 million development project that includes 10 main components, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus. @ProFootballHOF | #PFHOF18 .