Senior HOF candidates: Jack Butler Elected to the Class Of 2012/ Dick Stanfel Rejected

I' was very happy to see Cornerback Jack Butler get elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame at age 84.Even at the end of Butler's playing career, which ended in 1959, there was still no Pro Football Hall Of Fame in existence. It didn't get inaugurated until 1963.Butler was a ballhawk and a very hard hitter. His 52 Interceptions was #2 all-time at the time of his retirement, behind only HOFer Emlen Tunnell.53 years was an extremely long time to wait between his final game and his HOF election, but congratulations to Jack. He's finally in.It was a Tough Break for Butler's fellow Senior committee nominee Dick Stanfel, however , who fell short of election yesterday. Like Butler, he is due to turn 85 later this year and his NFL tenure was rougly the same as Butler's 1951-1959 career span. A great Guard, who provided Quarterback Bobby Layne with outstanding passing protection on the Detroit Lions' NFL championship teams of 1952 & 1953, Stanfel will have to hope he gains Senior Category nomination again in the near future. This is entirely possible - .Stanfel's teammate, Lou Creekmur, the Lions' other All-Pro Guard was named a Senior nominee one year early in the 2000s decade and failed to gain election, only to become one of the two Senior nominees again the following year. Creekmur gained election to Canton Iimmortality, the second time around.- Dennis Orlandini (Phillies Archivist) -