Jets great Joe Namath was recognized as a legend in his hometown.
As part of a special tribute weekend to one of pro football's legendary quarterbacks, Joe Namath was recognized as a "Hometown Hall of Famer" by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance in his hometown of Beaver Falls, Pa. during a morning ceremony at the Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls on Saturday, Sept. 10.
A Super Bowl champion quarterback for the New York Jets and former Beaver Falls High School star, Namath was presented with his "Hometown Hall of Famers" plaque by fellow Beaver Falls native, Mark LaNeve, Allstate executive vice president, marketing and sales operations. The plaque will be on permanent display at the library to serve as an inspiration for local residents.
Attending the ceremony were community officials and representatives from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Allstate and the Larry Bruno Foundation which inducted Namath, fellow Beaver Falls graduate Jim Mutscheller and the foundation’s namesake, former Beaver Falls head coach Larry Bruno, into the inaugural Circle of Achievement at a dinner on Saturday evening.
In addition to the plaque, a commemorative Joe Namath "Hometown Hall of Famer" road sign will be displayed in the Hall of Achievement at the Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls. The library has been in operation for over 100 years and serves as the community center, housing the Beaver Falls Historical Museum and the Beaver County Genealogy and Local History Centers.
"Hometown Hall of Famers presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate" is the Hall of Fame’s first nationwide plaque program and will lead into the celebration of its 50th anniversary in August 2012. For more information on the program, fans can visit www.profootballhof.com.
No matter how big you make it, being recognized in where you grew up has to be great.