Canton does not have a professional football team, but its connection with the sport goes back to pro football's infancy. The Canton Bulldogs were NFL champions in 1922 and 1923. Even before the NFL was founded (1920) the Bulldogs were a professional power in the defunct American Professional Football Association. And the legendary Jim Thorpe played his first professional game with Canton.
Two wings of the hall are devoted to honoring enshrinees. There is also a photo-art gallery, an enshrinee mementos area, a Super Bowl exhibit, and a new high-tech display called GameDay Stadium.
A 38-member board has the task of inducting new members into the hall. Eligible persons must be approved by 80% of the board. Through 2001 the Pro Football Hall of Fame had 211 enshrinees.
For more information on the Pro Football Hall of Fame visit: http://www.profootballhof.com/
List of Enshrinees:
Al Davis Alan Page Albert Glen "Turk" Edwards Alex Wojciechowicz Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans Andy Robustelli Anthony Muñoz Arnie Herber Arnie Weinmeister Art Donovan Art Rooney Art Shell Bart Starr Bert Bell Bill Dudley Bill George Bill Hewitt Bill Walsh Bill Willis Billy Shaw Bob Griese Bob Lilly Bob St. Clair Bob Waterfield Bobby Bell Bobby Layne Bobby Mitchell Bronko Nagurski Buck Buchanan Bud Grant Cal Hubbard Charles Bidwill Charley Taylor Charley Trippi Charlie Joiner Chuck Bednarik Chuck Noll Clarke Hinkle Cliff Battles Clyde "Bulldog" Turner Dan Dierdorf Dan Fortmann Dan Fouts Dan Reeves Dan Rooney Dante Lavelli Dave Wilcox David "Deacon" Jones Dick "Night Train" Lane Dick Butkus Doak Walker Don Hutson Don Maynard Don Shula Doug Atkins Dwight Stephenson Earl "Curly" Lambeau Earl "Dutch" Clark Earl Campbell Earle "Greasy" Neale Ed Healey Elroy Hirsch Emlen Tunnell Eric Dickerson Ernie Nevers Ernie Stautner Forrest Gregg Fran Tarkenton Franco Harris Frank Gatski Frank Gifford Fred Biletnikoff Gale Sayers Gene Upshaw George Blanda George Connor George Halas George Mcafee George Musso George Preston Marshall George Trafton Gino Marchetti Guy Chamberlin Harold "Red" Grange Henry Jordan Herb Adderley Howie Long Hugh Mcelhenny Jack Christiansen Jack Ham Jack Lambert Jack Youngblood Jackie Slater Jackie Smith Jan Stenerud Jim Brown Jim Finks Jim Langer Jim Otto Jim Parker Jim Ringo Jim Taylor Jim Thorpe Jimmy Conzelman Jimmy Johnson Joe Gibbs Joe Greene Joe Guyon Joe Montana Joe Namath Joe Perry Joe Schmidt Joe Stydahar John "Blood" Mcnally John "Paddy" Driscoll John Hannah John Henry Johnson John Mackey John Riggins Johnny Unitas Kellen Winslow Ken Houston Ken Strong Lamar Hunt Lance Alworth Larry Csonka Larry Little Larry Wilson Lawrence Taylor Lee Roy Selmon Lem Barney Len Dawson Len Ford Lenny Moore Leo Nomellini Leroy Kelly Link Lyman Lou Creekmur Lou Groza Lynn Swann Marion Motley Marv Levy Mel Blount Mel Hein Mel Renfro Merlin Olsen Mike Ditka Mike Haynes Mike Mccormack Mike Michalske Mike Munchak Mike Singletary Mike Webster Morris "Red" Badgro Nick Buoniconti Norm Van Brocklin O.J. Simpson Ollie Matson Otto Graham Ozzie Newsome Paul Brown Paul Hornung Paul Krause Paul Warfield Pete Pihos Randy White Ray Flaherty Ray Nitschke Raymond Berry Roger Staubach Ron Mix Ron Yary Ronnie Lott Roosevelt Brown Sam Huff Sammy Baugh Sid Gillman Sid Luckman Sonny Jurgensen Stan Jones Steve Largent Steve Owen Steve Van Buren Ted Hendricks Terry Bradshaw Tex Schramm Tim Mara Tom Fears Tom Landry Tom Mack Tommy Mcdonald Tony Canadeo Tony Dorsett Vince Lombardi Walt Kiesling Walter Payton Wayne Millner Weeb Ewbank Wellington Mara Wilbur "Pete" Henry Willie Brown Willie Davis Willie Lanier Willie Wood Y.A. Tittle Yale Lary