(Colorado College) Quarterback 6-0, 185 1931-32/1934-38 Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions
Earl Harry Clark ... Colorado College All-American, 1928 ... Called signals, played tailback, did every- thing superbly well... Quiet, quick-thinking, exceptional team leader ... NFL’s last dropkick- ing specialist ... All-NFL six of seven years ... NFL scoring champ three years ... Generalled Lions to 1935 NFL title ... Scored 354 points on 42 TDs, 72 PATs, 10 FGs ... Player-coach final two seasons ... Born October 11, 1906, in Fowler, Colorado ... Died August 5, 1978, at age of 71.
GEORGE CONNOR
Enshrined in 1975 (Holy Cross, Notre Dame) Tackle-Linebacker 6-3, 2401948-1955 Chicago Bears
George Leo Connor ... All-American at both Holy Cross, Notre Dame ... New York Giants’ No. 1 draft pick, 1946 ... Rights traded to Boston Yanks and then to Bears ... All-NFL at three positions - offensive tackle, defensive tackle, lineback- er ... All-NFL five years ... Two-way performer throughout career ... First of big, fast, agile line- backers ... Exceptional at diagnosing enemy plays ... Played in four Pro Bowl games, 1950-1953 ... Born January 21, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois ... Died March 31, 2003, at age of 78.
JIMMY CONZELMAN
Enshrined in 1964 (Washington of St. Louis)Quarterback-Coach-Owner 6-0, 175 1920 Decatur Staleys, 1921-22 Rock Island Independents, 1922-24 Milwaukee Badgers, 1925- 26 Detroit Panthers, 1927-1930 Providence Steam Roller, 1940-42, 1946-48 Chicago Cardinals
James Gleason Conzelman ... Multi-talented ath- lete, editor, executive, songwriter, orator ... Began NFL career with Staleys, 1920 ... Player-coach of four NFL teams in the 1920s, including 1928 cham- pion Providence ... Player-coach-owner of Detroit team, 1925-1926 ... Knee injury ended 10-year play- ing career, 1929 ... Coached Cardinals to 1947 NFL, 1948 division crowns ... Born March 6, 1898, in St. Louis, Missouri ... Died July 31, 1970, at age of 72.
Hall of Famer
Capsule Bios
LOU CREEKMUR
Enshrined in 1996 (William & Mary) Tackle-Guard 6-4, 246 1950-59 Detroit LionsLouis Creekmur ... No. 2 draft pick, 1950 ... Primarily an offensive lineman, used on defense in short-yardage situations ... Flamboyant, versa- tile, strong blocker ... Workhorse, played in 165 straight games, 1950-1958 (includes preseason, regular season and playoffs) ... All-NFL guard, 1951, 1952 ... All-NFL tackle, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957 ... Selected for eight Pro Bowls, twice as guard, six times as tackle ... Played on three Lions NFL title teams ... Born January 22, 1927, in Hopelawn, New Jersey ... Died July 5, 2009, at age of 82.
LARRY CSONKA
Enshrined in 1987 (Syracuse) Fullback 6-3, 2371968-1974, 1979 Miami Dolphins, 1976-78 New York Giants
Lawrence Richard Csonka ... Syracuse All- American, 1967 ... No. 1 draft pick, 1968 ... Powerhouse runner, excellent blocker, receiver ... Only 21 fumbles in 1,891 carries ... Surpassed 1000 yards rushing three seasons ... Four-time All-AFC, picked for five Pro Bowls ... All-Pro 1971, 1972, 1973 ... MVP in Super Bowl VIII ... Made great comeback with 1979 Dolphins ... Career stats: 8,081 yards rushing, 106 receptions, 68 touchdowns ... Born December 25, 1946, in Stow, Ohio.
CURLEY CULP
Enshrined in 2013 (Arizona State) Defensive Tackle 6-2, 265 1968-1974 Kansas City Chiefs, 1974-1980 Houston Oilers, 1980-81 Detroit LionsCurley Culp ... Selected in 2nd round (31st play- er overall) in 1968 draft by Broncos … Traded during training camp and became key member of KC defense that guided team to Super Bowl IV win two seasons later … Leader of 1975 Oilers, helped team to first winning season in eight years and just second in 13 seasons … Named NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro, 1975 … First- or second-team All-AFC five times … Six Pro Bowls … Born March 10, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona.
AL DAVIS
Enshrined in 1992 (Wittenberg, Syracuse) Coach-Owner-Commissioner1963-65 Oakland Raiders, 1966 American Football League, 1966-2011 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Allen Davis ... As AFL commissioner, forced quick merger with NFL, 1966 ... Davis-led Raiders had best record in pro sports, 1963-1991, won Super Bowls XI, XV, XVIII ... AFL Coach of the Year, 1963 ... Only person to serve in pros as personnel assistant, scout, assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner, team owner/ chief executive officer ... Born July 4, 1929, in Brockton, Massachusetts ... Died October 8, 2011, at age of 82.
WILLIE DAVIS
Enshrined in 1981 (Grambling) Defensive End 6-3, 2431958-59 Cleveland Browns, 1960-69 Green Bay Packers
William Delford Davis ... 15th-round draft pick, 1956 ... Played Army football prior to joining 1958 Browns ... Career turning point came with 1960 trade to Green Bay, where he became a defensive standout ... Had speed, agility, size ... Great team leader, dedicated, intelligent ... All- NFL five seasons ... In five Pro Bowls, six NFL title games, two Super Bowls ... Didn’t miss a game in 12-year, 162-game career. . .Born July 24, 1934, in Lisbon, Louisiana.
DERMONTTI DAWSON
Enshrined in 2012 (Kentucky) Center 6-2, 2881988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
Dermontti Fara Dawson ... Steelers’ second-round draft pick (44th player overall), 1988 NFL Draft ... Became starting center in 1989 replacing future Hall of Famer Mike Webster ... Named Co-AFC Offensive Lineman of the Year by NFL Players Association, 1993 ... Selected as NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year, 1996 ... Played in 170 consecutive games ... Named first-team All- Pro six consecutive years (1993-1998) ... Selected to play in seven consecutive Pro Bowls (1993-99) ... Born June 17, 1965 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Only two tandems of Hall of Famers who were in inducted in the same class, played together in college and were drafted into the NFL in the same year.
*Russ Grimm & Rickey Jackson - enshrined in 2010; drafted in 1981 out of University of Pittsburgh.
*Gino Marchetti & Ollie Matson - enshrined in 1972; drafted in 1952 out of University of San Francisco.
2015 PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME MEDIA GUIDE
Hall of Famer
Capsule Bios
LEN DAWSON
Enshrined in 1987 (Purdue) Quarterback 6-0, 1901957-59 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1960-61 Cleveland Browns, 1962/1963-1975 Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs
Leonard Ray Dawson ... Pittsburgh’s No. 1 draft pick, 1957 ... Led 1962 Texans, 1966, 1969 Chiefs to AFL titles ... AFL Player of Year, 1962 ... Won four AFL passing crowns ... MVP, Super Bowl IV ... Selected to six AFL All-Star games, 1972 Pro Bowl ... Pin-point passer, astute field general ... Career passing stats: 28,711 yards, 239 touchdowns, 82.6 rating ... Rushed for 1,293 yards, 9 TDs ... Born June 20, 1935, in Alliance, Ohio.
FRED DEAN
Enshrined in 2008 (Louisiana Tech) Defensive End 6-3, 230 1975-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1981-85 San Francisco 49ersFredrick Rudolph Dean ... Selected in the second round in 1975 draft by Chargers ... Played lineback- er in college ... Quickness, speed, strength made him a feared pass rusher ... Career sack total near 100, but unofficial since sacks were not an official NFL statistic until 1982 ... Career best 17.5 sacks, 1983 ... Named All-Pro in 1980 and 1981, All-AFC twice, All-NFC twice ... Name to four Pro Bowls ... Born February 24, 1952 in Arcadia, Louisiana.