Stan Jones

Full Name: Stanley Paul Jones

Birthdate: November 24, 1931

Birthplace: Altoona, Pennsylvania

Died: May 21, 2010

High School: Lemyone (Pa.)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 26, 1991

Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 27, 1991

Presenter: Bob Kilcullen, Former Bears teammate

Other Members of Class of 1991: Earl Campbell, John Hannah, Tex Schramm, Jan Stenerud

Pro Career: 13 seasons, 157 games

Drafted: 5th round (54th player overall) in 1953 by Chicago Bears 

Uniform Number: 78, (73)
 

Stan Jones Enshrinement Speech 1991

Presenter: Bob Kilcullen

Stan Jones was the first to bring vitamins and nutrition and weightlifting to training camp in Rensler, Indiana and I will never forget tigers’ milk on his dresser in the dorm. And I often wondered what boy devil had to go out and get that stuff. I am truly privileged to present to you today one of the most deserving inductees into the Hall of Fame, right here in Canton where the league began with the help of our old coach, George Halas. Only in America could this happen. Now America has embraced the NFL and made it a part of the American landscape, but this is about people and I am here to tell you about one that is special. Paul and Justine Jones began their family in Altoona, Pennsylvania with the birth of their son Stan. They soon moved to Lamoyne where Stan began his football career. Sadly, Paul's health began to fail. However, during his brief life he was able to give Stan valuable encouragement especially after losses. This encouragement took root and would often surface. Stan's grandfather and great-grandfather also gave this guy a cherished gift ... that of story time and that is a vanishing art.

Stan played football at the University of Maryland where he was chosen the unanimous all-American and the Lineman of the Year by the Washington Touchdown Club. He was drafted by the Bears in '53 and became part of the Chicago Bears tradition. He was all pro four times and selected seven times to the pro bowl as an offensive right guard. Now that should be enough to enter the Hall of Fame by itself. But let me -tell you something exceptional. Nearing the end of his career in 1962, Stan was asked to help out on defense, so he began to play both ways. 1963 found the Bears depleted by injuries so Stan found himself starting in left defensive tackle. As the Bears limped into Green Bay to open the season against Lombardi's twice NFL champions, the Bears won it. When we played again later in the year, the Bears and Pacs were tied for first place in beautiful Rigley Field, Stan and the Bears triumphed again. And as one Packer in the second game put it, that was just an old-fashioned country licking. That defensive team in 1963 led… they were first in 10 categories and second in eight out of a total of 19 and held the record for years for points scored against the 10. In the early 60's as captain of the team Stan had to take the unpopular news that the Bears' players had voted unanimously to join the NFLPA. And the Bears were the last team to join. This was the beginning of the NFLPA. We old Bears are tremendously proud of Stan. In fact, there are a lot of us that wish we could go back and do it all over again because he made it so much fun. But the love and pride are felt mostly here today in Canton. Stan's high school sweetheart and wife Darlis is here along with his daughter Sherry and his sons Kevin and Tony and their families. Stan's abilities and honors on the field are only matched by his warm approach of life itself. I feel that is why we all love this guy. God bless you. Stan Jones.

Stan Jones

Thank you very much. Thank you, Bob. Bob failed to mention that the left end on that football team in 1963 was Bob Kilcullen and Bob had done the same thing I had done he had moved from offense to defense and we were kind of suspect, to say the least and I think we withstood the challenge. But just to think that at that point in time that we would end up at this place together. I think it only right that he be here to share it with me.

I want to thank, too, the New England Patriots organization to allowing me to miss my first training camp for three days in 38 years. I think I am entitled to a pass after 38 years, but they were very great about it and Sam Jankovich is here and Victor Kiam. I really appreciate it. I also want to say that I appreciate the hospitality of the Canton area and some of the greatest experiences I have ever had in my entire life. I also would like to thank the former enshrinees that are here and give the support in a fraternal type of way that is seldom seen and at a height and a place that few can really understand.

The honors that I receive today I share and there are many honors. And I am honored first of all for the fact that I am coming in with a class that I have a great deal of respect for as individuals. I have known them in a distant way, but, nevertheless. And when I first think of names like Tex Schramm, I think of that great Dallas organization something everyone in the league had a great deal of respect for. Jan Stenerud, I will never forget those booming kick-offs in the old stadium in Kansas City where Toma would paint an ''X'' in the back of the stadium. I never saw anyone kick a ball completely out of a football field before. Earl Campbell lethal thighs. I have watched some of our best defensive backs come up to attempt to make a tackle and an all pro safety attempt to make a tackle and be carried out of the game. John Hannah, we had to take volunteers to line up against him, he was so effective. I also have a great honor and great thrill for me as an offensive guard and I know John feels the same way to be here, there was a point in time where the guards, Abe Gibron and a few of us had gotten together and decided to possibly move our Hall of Fame to Buffalo, New York. There we would hold a bowling tournament during the February month, sort of the off season there, and we wouldn't use pins I mean we wouldn't use balls; we would just run down the lane and go headfirst into the pins. And then we would have Rodney Dangerfield be the masters of ceremonies. But, fortunately, the offensive guards are now back into the fold here and we now have three pure guards into the Hall of Fame and that is a tremendous pleasure for me.

I am also thrilled that 10 former teammates, I am joining 10 former teammates of mine that are already enshrined and eight former assistant coaches who are in the Hall of Fame Now how can you go wrong when you have eight Hall of Famers coach you. So that is certainly something special. But no one stands here alone, and no one understands this better than an old offensive guard. There are many, many, many people who deserves to be recognized by me for their great help, whether it was a nudge, push or a boot, she is among those here and that is my wife Darlis. And she truly given her share of nudges, pushes and boots. And my family, Sherrill, Kevin, Klea, Tony and Alma and our four grandchildren and one is here today, Tory Jones is sitting here in the front of the stadium, and I really appreciate their support and because I think they were somewhat short changed at times because of the hours and things we get involved with as players and coaches.

And I want to also say something about the great friends I have had throughout the year at the various places I have been and there have been over 100 and I should receive an award from the Chamber of Commerce for filling up more hotel space than anybody's else here. And no one came further, and no one is more loved than Fern Clark and her son John from Hawaii. Fern's husband was a teammate of mine and also my roommate for the Chicago Bears and unfortunately passed on two years ago. I just wish that he were here. No one is more missed. I would also like to say something to my relatives, I don't have that many. Unfortunately, I was an only child and my parents died early, but my cousins Kay Jones Dieffenbaugh, Penny Jones Isenberg and Jack Ansman are here. And my friends and former teammates from Lemoyne High School in Lemoyne, PA and John Behman, my former coach, is sitting here in attendance and it is a tremendous thrill and I know John had some worries along the way that possibility I would not reach this area of whatever. And also, my teammates from Maryland and former teammates of Chicago, Mr. Stan Carr who is attending today who was very ill and was able to make it and I appreciate that. And friends from Denver, Denver Broncos and I have never, ever forgotten them and I see a lot of them out there. And friends from Buffalo and Cleveland. Unfortunately, the person that probably should be here and get a high respect from me would be my father who unfortunately died before I graduated from college and never saw me become an all-American. And his greatest hero was Red Grange and Red Grange was the highest pinnacle that man could ever expect anything. He often said to me that the main thing about sports, he never played football, he was never healthy enough to play, but the thing about it was that you challenge your opponent. I remember he came down to the University of Maryland and he only saw me play one game and he saw the game and I said after the game, ''dad, I didn't play very well.'' He said, ''no you didn't, but you challenged the guy you played against. You made him a better football player.'' And I will never forget that.

My mother who was responsible for my longevity in sports. I was going to retire after my fourth or fifth year with the Bears and she said ''no Stan, why don't you stick around long enough to make a name for yourself.'' It has taken me 38 years, but maybe I am coming close. I would also like to thank my ~ former coaches, my high school coach Henry Gsell, Jim Tatum, George Halas, who was more than a football coach, he was the owner and a very loved person and someone I felt very close to as you would to someone in your family. Clark Shaughnessy scouted me and recommended me and was my coach in offense when I first went with the Bears. And my pro line coaches I would like to mention them. Bulldog Turner was my first offensive line coach. George Connor was a coach and a loved teammate, and he was one of my heroes. I think George Connor was the greatest thing I have ever had the opportunity to get on a team and play with Joe Stydahar was also a coach of mine on the defense and Bill Phil Handler and Mo Scarry.

It has been my pleasure to play the game of football especially playing in a league that has continued the greatest sports game in the world. The NFL has and continues to attract the greatest athletes to compete within the framework of a complex team game. The greatest thrill I have known has been to line up with and against some of these greatest athletes and human beings I have ever known. I had the greatest admiration for my opponents such as Leo Nomellini, Art Donovan, Forrest Gregg, Jim Ringo just to name a few who are already enshrined. The mention of the good old days turns off many especially the younger people, but the early years of my career were good because of the low salaries we were forced to find housing together in Chicago in transient hotels and the players not only knew each other, but the families knew each other, the wives, the kids everybody knew each other. This was made for a tight knit team ... all for one and one for all. I certainly wasn't the guy that was going to let them down on the goal line stand because I had to come back into the hotel and look at those kids and the families and not to rob them out of a few extra thousand dollars at the end of the season that meant so much. And our kids, I can recall our days off where we take the kids to the Lincoln Park Zoo. That zoo became a regular stopping place for us in those days. And we celebrated our victories and mourned our defeats and fought and argued in private. But publicly defended our teammates. Locker room signs said in those days ''what is said here, stays here.'' Even today as I speak, we were very close to the families of my ex-teammates. And on top of this pyramid organization was Papi Bear George Halas. He might cuss you out, but he would be there to defend you and your family. Always there to bail you out of problems. And everyone in the Bear organization is a li time Chicago Bear. Togetherness yes, but better far, there was love and those were the good old days and some people say they weren't so hot, but I tell you they were great.

And for what it is worth department, my suggestion for the NFL, bring back the sledgehammer offense, put back the drive blocks, the traps and the in-line trench warfare. Bring back the seven-man sled, drive the sled and quit popping root coiling all over the place. Outlaw the mass substitution, it makes you about half sick. Second and long everybody comes off the bench, everybody goes back on the bench. All the trick football, 13 men in the huddle. In general, let linemen compete, bring back the days of grass surfaces and outdoor stadiums. Thank you very much. It is the greatest honor I have ever received, and I am going to treasure this for the reminder of my life. Thank you very much.