Hornung, Tarkenton Gain Hall : 3 Others Elected; Ex-Packer Beats Gambling Stigma

Paul Hornung, whose Golden Boy image was tarnished in the 1960s when it was disclosed he had bet on NFL games, finally made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his 15th try. Fourteen times previously, the former Green Bay Packer halfback failed to get enough support for the hall.

But on Tuesday, when the results of this year’s voting were announced, the votes were there and Hornung was elected with four other former National Football League greats: quarterback Fran Tarkenton, halfback Doak Walker and defensive standouts Willie Lanier and Ken Houston.

They will be enshrined at ceremonies next summer.

Hornung’s one-year suspension in 1963 for betting on his own team had been blamed for keeping him from the hall until now. Last year, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame for his exploits at Notre Dame.

Hornung said he wondered if “the ultimate honor would ever be mine.”

“This has to be the greatest day of my life,” he said Tuesday from his New Orleans hotel room.

“I always had hope I’d get in some day, but I learned a long time ago never to look back.

“I don’t see this as Paul Hornung being vindicated. I never considered myself a villain, but obviously some people did.”

The selection committee is made up of one media representative from each NFL city plus a 29th member from the Pro Football Writers Assn. To be elected, a player must receive support from about 82% of those voting. Rules call for the election of four to seven members to the hall each year.

Houston, who played defensive back for the Houston Oilers and the Washington Redskins, said: “I’m elated.”

“I’m happy to be there,” Houston said upon learning he had been picked in his first year of eligibility. “It’s something you don’t really think about, really, because you always think it will be something that will happen after you are dead, really.”

Added Houston: “I always thought the Hall of Fame was for other people, because I had never put myself in that class as a player. Now I really feel different about it.”

Houston became the eighth defensive back from the modern era and the fifth safety to win induction. In 14 seasons, he had 49 interceptions and established an NFL record by running nine back for touchdowns.

“It’s fantastic,” said Lanier, a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, saying notification of his induction gave him a “very rewarding and refreshing feeling.”

Lanier was the second Kansas City Chief player--Bobby Bell was the first--to make it to the hall and the eighth linebacker from the modern era. In 11 seasons, he intercepted 27 passes for 440 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“The thing I noticed this morning, there was great elation at being called to be told that I was one of the five, but then after talking to a few people I went through a little down period,” Lanier said.

“The period was just then one of reflecting on all the people that have been involved with it, all of those that you want to be here when this occurred. My mother passed (away) a couple of years ago, and it would be great if she were here to share in this.”