NFL Players, Owners Goaded Into Action

I would like to thank your staff, especially Earl Gustkey, for the tremendous influence you put in motion on behalf of the pre-59ers of pro football who were totally ignored regarding their influence on the growth of the game.

As your readers learned that we were not included in the pension plan, it became obvious that both the players’ association and the NFL owners were goaded into action. This resulted in the awarding of a pension to those qualified who played at least five years before 1959.

On behalf of all the pre-59ers, I would like to tell you that you made some deserving, and in some cases some very needy, men regain a bit of pride and self-respect by recognizing their early contributions to the sport founded on a lot of dreams.

BILL RADOVICH

Gardena