Lori Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Press release Long-time NFL offensive line coach, Kenmore native and University at Buffalo graduate Jim McNally and Depew native and former Green Bay Packer All-Pro Don Majkowski are among the Class of 2008 inductees into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Three former Pro Bowlers and a host of local legends highlight the class of 13 new inductees announced by Board President, Charles Frawley. Joining McNally and Majkowski are Daryl Johnston (Football), Butch Byrd (Football), Hank Nichols (Basketball Official), Ray Hall (Basketball), Jeff Manto (Baseball), Cindy Breski (Softball), Pat Monti (Coach, Basketball), Fred Hunt (Hockey) and Joe Shifflet (Coach, Football, Wrestling). This group will join a rich heritage of native Western New Yorkers, or those who starred in and around the Queen City during their playing days, who are enshrined in the Sports Hall of Fame. In addition, two other athletes – tennis standout Jack Sunderland and high school football coaching icon Jules Yakapovich– will join last year’s initial enshrinees in the Pride of Western New York – which honors Buffalo-area sports immortals posthumously. The Pride of Western New York is sponsored by Try-It Distributing and the Vukelic Family. The 2008 class will be officially enshrined in October. GEORGE “BUTCH” BYRD The old adage ‘the right place at the right time’ seems appropriate for Butch Byrd but many would argue that it was Butch making the right decisions at the right time that led to his successful career in football… and in life. A standout two-way player at LaSalle Institute in Troy, NY, Butch was named to the All-Troy Football Offensive Team all four years and to the All Defensive Team his last three years. After graduation, he chose Boston University and led the team in rushing his junior and senior years and in 1964 was named to the All-East team as a defensive back. But it was his decision to attend Boston University that not only fast-tracked his football reputation but also resulted in a life changing event – it was there he met his wife Carolyn. In 1964 he was selected in the college draft by the Buffalo Bills and Butch made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball as a cornerback. Early in the season, he ran back his first professional interception 72 yards for a touchdown; that wouldn’t be the last as he would later become the Bills’ all-time leader in interceptions with 40; seemingly always in the right place at the right time. He was a valuable member of the two AFL championship Buffalo Bills teams of 1964 and 1965 and was selected to five All-AFL teams. Moreover, he played in every game as a member of the Bills during his tenure in Buffalo. Butch was elected to the LaSalle Institute Athletic Hall of Fame, Boston University Hall of Fame, Albany Capital District Hall of Fame, AFL Hall of Fame, and named to the All-Time Bills Team. JIM McNALLY While many are familiar with a famous mouse in Florida, there is another legendary Mouse - more beloved to football players, fans, coaches and sports writers - who started and ended his illustrious career in Buffalo. Jim McNally played sandlot football in Kenmore, earning the nickname ‘Mouse’ for his size, speed and elusiveness. After graduating from Kenmore West High School and with no scholarship in hand, Jim went to the University of Buffalo and ‘walked on’ as a 5-8 guard; many regarded him as too small and light to play at the collegiate level, but Jim, bulking up to 210 pounds and full of determination, soon found a starting position on both offense and defense at UB. Jim earned a bachelor’s degree at UB and became a graduate assistant with the freshman team; he went on to obtain his master’s degree in education and eventually worked his way up to an assistant coach position until UB dropped their football program. After successful stints at Marshall, Boston College, and Wake Forest, Jim was offered the offensive line coach job with the Cincinnati Bengals, where over 15 years he tutored and mentored the line anchored by Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz – who credits much of his success to McNally’s teachings. After leaving the Bengals he coached offensive line for the Carolina Panthers, helping the team reach the NFC championship game in only its second year; later he coached the New York Giants offensive line, helping them to the Super Bowl in 2000. In 2004, the call came to come to Buffalo where after four years Jim concluded his remarkable career coaching the Bills’ offensive line to new successes. Described in USA Today as “perhaps the best offensive line coach in the game”, Jim was previously inducted into the UB Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982. Congratulations to the entire Class of 2008. Byrd's selection for the Ralph Wilson Stadium Wall of Fame seems unlikely at this point, and it's hard to comprehend the idea that he wasn't already in the GBSHOF, but at least one error is now being corrected. The current list of Bills-related inductees: Ed Abramoski (1996) Shane Conlan (2005) Joe DeLamielleure (1996) Elbert Dubenion (1993) Booker Edgerson (2001) Joe Ferguson (1995) Kent Hull (1997) Jim Kelly (1997) Jack Kemp (1992) Marv Levy (1998) Paul Maguire (2002) Van Miller (1999) Bill Polian (2007) Andre Reed (2004) Lou Saban (1994) George Saimes (1999) Tom Sestak (1993) Billy Shaw (1994) O.J. Simpson (1991) Fred Smerlas (2000) Bruce Smith (2006) Mike Stratton (2005) Steve Tasker (2001) Darryl Talley (2007) Thurman Thomas (2003) Ralph Wilson (1992) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Byrd's selection for the Ralph Wilson Stadium Wall of Fame seems unlikely at this point, and it's hard to comprehend the idea that he wasn't already in the GBSHOF, but at least one error is now being corrected. It is too bad that they still have outstanding errors. NO props to the people who put Buffalo on the football map, namely the 1920s Buffalo teams or the 1940s teams. Ailinger was inducted, but it had nothing to do with his play. Hell, the current Bills would not even exist if it were not for the 1940s franchise. [/rant] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 Would have been nice if Ailinger's bio had mentioned that he played for an NFL team IN BUFFALO, no? They could mention the hockey Bisons, but not the football version? sigh ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Would have been nice if Ailinger's bio had mentioned that he played for an NFL team IN BUFFALO, no? They could mention the hockey Bisons, but not the football version? sigh ... Ya think? It seems like they have the attitude that professional football in Buffalo started and ended with the current Bills franchise. They really have no desire to put in anyone prior to this franchise. I know that you have already seen this letter, but I thought I would put it out for the rest of the people. I would hate to see them not induct anyone from the 1940s Bills, while we still have some players alive to attend the induction. April 4, 2008 Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, As a Western New York pro football historian, I was saddened to learn that the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame has not honored the 1946-1949 Buffalo Bisons/Bills. Several members of the team have made it to the long list of nominees, but only Tom Colella has been inducted and he was not inducted for his play on the 1949 Buffalo Bills squad. I have had the opportunity and privilege to interview surviving members of those Buffalo teams, and to a person they all mentioned the love and support of the Buffalo community toward the team. The Buffalo Bisons/Bills were an integral part of the Buffalo community. According to Bills player Chet Mutryn, “Buffalo fans were not only very supportive, but they treated Bills players like members of their family.” As is well documented, the Bills were not included in the merger between the National Football League (NFL) and the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). A few days after the merger between the leagues was announced, Buffalo football fans formed the Buffalo Bills Football Club, Inc., with hopes of raising enough money to make the NAFL (the acronym for the newly merged league) reconsider adding the Buffalo team. More than 20,000 people of all walks of life showed up at Memorial Auditorium for an initial fundraising drive to “Keep the Bills in Buffalo” a mere few days after the formation of the Buffalo Bills Football Club, Inc. Sports Booster clubs from Lancaster, Hamburg and Depew made their way to the event. One Tonawanda businessman donated fifty cars for free transportation to the fundraiser. That night, $74,770 was raised by selling five dollar shares on the company, with another $125,000 underwritten to bring the fundraising total to $199,770. An additional $10,000 was donated by the Buffalo Courier-Express. Not to be outdone, the Buffalo Evening News handed over a check for $10,000. Fans in Hamilton, Ontario raised an additional $5,000 to keep the team alive. Arthur H. Rich, secretary-treasurer of the corporation, was shocked at the turnout. “Never saw anything like it. There just can’t be another town like Buffalo. I don’t see how this kind of spirit…and cash…can be turned down. Do you? ” Season ticket pledges were also sold. The goal was to sell 10,000 tickets, which would double the 1949 number. It took less than a week. An additional $15,073 in ticket pledges was received by January of 1950, shortly before Buffalo made their case to the NAFL for admittance. People of all walks of life contributed to the effort. It was a true community atmosphere, as people were concerned about getting a team. Kids broke into their piggy banks. Laborers stopped what they were doing to take time to support the cause. It was nothing short of miraculous. Heading into the January league meeting in Philadelphia, Buffalo had raised $252,170 in stock sales and over 15,000 season ticket pledges. They also received the support of at least four NAFL owners: Art Rooney of Pittsburgh, Tim Mara of the New York Giants, George Preston Marshall of the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears’ owner George Halas. In the end, the league decided that they did not want to expand to fourteen teams and the Bills were left out. It would not be until ten years later before Buffalo would see another professional football franchise. In 1959, Ralph Wilson sought to place an American Football League (AFL) team in Miami. The deal fell through and Wilson needed another location. AFL founder Lamar Hunt suggested Buffalo as a potential location, due to the success of the AAFC Bills franchise and the community support of the team. Wilson chose Buffalo and named his franchise the Bills, in honor of that AAFC team. It is my contention that the current Bills franchise would not exist if it were not for the Bills for the All-America Football Conference. Would Lamar Hunt have suggested Buffalo, if it were not for the team and the subsequent community support in trying to get an NFL franchise? My answer is No! In my humble opinion, the success of the franchise, the community support of the franchise, and the city of Buffalo being mentioned and accepted into the American Football League is a direct result of the aforementioned success and support, The Buffalo Bisons/Bills deserve the honor of being inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Please consider inducting the 1946-1949 Buffalo Bisons/Bills into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Thank you. Kenneth R. Crippen Assistant Executive Director Professional Football Researchers Association Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdelma Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 I've been yelling for years about Butch, somebody maybe is listening. This guy should have been on the wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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