Forrest Gregg acknowledges those who attended the program in his honor this past Monday.

Forrest Gregg was the “finest” football player that legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi had the opportunity with which to work – but that was just one of an infinitesimal number of reasons that the former Packer player was honored Monday in his hometown of  Sulphur Springs, Texas.

The roadside sign that will be placed at the entrance to Sulpher Springs, Texas, and Forrest Gregg’s Packers jersey were on display at Monday’s ceremony.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance selected Gregg to be honored as part of the “Hometown Hall of Famers” program – an honor that they have bestowed on many former players from across the NFL.

But Monday was Gregg’s day.

In an interview with lombardiave.com prior to his induction, Gregg couldn’t express enough gratitude for his selection:

“This is very special time for us – the whole family,” Gregg said. “My daughter, Karen, is going to present me and we’ll have all those old friends there. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate Allstate and the Hall of Fame. I feel like this is an award not just for me, but for Sulphur Springs and Sulphur Springs High School and all the people I went to school with.”

Forrest Gregg and his daughter, Karen Spehar, unveil the plaque that was presented in his honor Monday.

And such was the case.

According to an account by representatives of the hosts who were there, this is how things transpired:

There were not one but two presenters for Gregg. The first was local radio personality, Bill Bradford. A very close friend of the family, Bradford went on to tell the crowd that the young man he knew from high school football days is the same man he knows today – one who stands by his morals and never lets those close to him down. Bradford looked out at the crowd at the end of his speech and said, “If there is a young person out there looking for a hero, they need look no further than Forrest Gregg.”

The next presenter was Gregg’s daughter, Karen Spehar. Before speaking about her father, Spehar thanked the Sulphur Springs community for encouraging Gregg to follow his dreams. Without this community, she said, he would not be the man he is today.

As Gregg stepped forward to unveil the plaque with his daughter, the crowd jumped to their feet to congratulate the

With his Sulpher Springs jersey in front of the podium, Gregg gives his speech at Monday’s program.

accomplishments of one of their own.

Gregg started by thanking everyone in attendance and even those from the Sulphur Springs community who could not be there. He said, “Whatever I have achieved links back to this town and this high school.”

What was truly remarkable were the people in attendance who had come to support Gregg. Looking out into the crowd, Gregg spent time thanking members of the SMU community, particularly a group of football players known as the “Young Guns” whom he had coached. And teammates from both the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals, all of whom had come out to support not just a teammate but a friend.

Paul Hornung, the Packers Hall of Famer, will be honored as a "Hometown Hero."

Like Bart Starr a few months ago, Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Paul Hornung will soon receive yet another honor.

According to representatives from Allstate out of the Chicago office, the insurance company, in association with the Pro Football Hall of Fame will honor Hornung as a “Hometown Hall of Famer.”

Here is the full press release announcing the upcoming presentation:

Pro football legend Paul Hornung will be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance Company in Louisville on Tuesday, March 13, as part of “Hometown Hall of Famers™,” a national program honoring the hometown roots of the sport’s greatest players with special ceremonies and plaque dedication events in local communities.

“’Hometown Hall of Famers™’ has been warmly embraced by communities and Hall of Famers alike,” said George Veras, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises president and CEO.  “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Allstate to bring the Pro Football Hall of Fame to communities across the country and congratulate Paul Hornung and Trinity High School on bringing a piece of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Louisville.”

A two-time Pro Bowl selection as halfback for the Green Bay Packers and former high school standout at the now-closed Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget High School in Louisville, Hornung will be presented with his “Hometown Hall of Famer™” plaque during a special ceremony at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 13, at Trinity High School, where the plaque will live permanently to serve as an inspiration for the entire community. The presentation will be made by Will Wolford, Hornung’s long-time friend and former NFL offensive lineman.

“To be part of a program that brings the prestige and tradition of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to cities like Louisville is an honor for Allstate, our agents and employees,” said Lisa Cochrane, Allstate’s senior vice president of marketing.

The ceremony will be attended by Hornung’s family members and close friends, as well as Louisville community members. John Asher, vice president of communications at Churchill Downs, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

In addition to the plaque, a commemorative Paul Hornung “Hometown Hall of Famer™” road sign will be on display in Louisville.

As a standout student-athlete in high school, Hornung lettered four years in football, baseball and basketball. After high school, Hornung excelled as a versatile offensive and defensive threat at the University of Notre Dame where he earned the nickname the “Golden Boy” and won the Heisman Trophy in 1956.

Hornung was the first overall selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 1957 NFL Draft. His nine-year career as a dominant halfback totaled 3,711 rushing yards and 1,480 receiving yards for 62 touchdowns. Hornung also handled kicking duties during his career, making 66 field goals and 190 extra points. Although he was unable to participate in the game due to a pinched nerve in his neck, Hornung’s Packers won the first-ever Super Bowl played on January 15, 1967, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 35-10.

Hornung was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

“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 50^th anniversary in August 2012.  For more information on the program and event videos, fans can visit www.profootballhof.com. 

About the Pro Football Hall of Fame

In its day-to-day operation, the Pro Football Hall of Fame works very closely with all facets of the pro football family – the National Football League, the 32 NFL clubs, and other entities to ensure the overall success of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In turn, the Hall strives to serve as the best possible historical showplace and repository for the sport of pro football. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational institution that focuses on education, promoting, preserving, and honoring the great individuals and moments that have shaped the sport’s history.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate^®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate^®. As part of Allstate’s commitmentto strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $28 million in 2011 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.