Pro Football Hall of Fame Field
August 2, 2014
AENEAS WILLIAMS:
I'll just take a moment to soak this all in. The moment to be here, and I will start out by telling you this, how in the world do you go from walking on your junior year a week before the season starts, your junior year at the Southern University, that's right, Ohio State, it's the Southern University.
There are so many people that I could thank, teammates, coaches, mentors. There will be some I'll call, but some I just want to right now up front say thank you so much to every teammate at Arizona and every teammate in St. Louis. I could not and wouldn't be here without you. But as I sought this journey, and I don't want to sound morbid or anything like that, I want to tell you something, this is an intentional journey. I am No. 287 and because my name is the last name Williams, I am the last one in my induction class, but I also want to say thank you to the 32 owners, Roger Goodell, DeMaurice Smith of the Players Association, and here's why, because tough decisions have to be made that are unpopular, but the success and promotion and enjoyment of this game with the fans is because of the important decisions that are made that allow us to be here and celebrate with you the fans and all of these great Hall of Famers that I get an opportunity to sit up here with.
I've got two statements, if you don't remember anything I say. Two statements if you don't remember anything else I say. Begin with the end in mind and die empty. Begin with the end in mind and die empty. So let me tell you about this journey. It all starts at home. And I wouldn't be and could not be without the foundation. See I've heard a lot of speeches, I've listened to them, believe me. But I want to tell you it starts with Lawrence and Lillian Williams in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mom and Dad, I need you all to stand up. Dad is up here as a presenter, my mother is seated there. Now these Hall of Famers and all, they've all been voting on who is going to cry.
Now you know that two of the guys, my first two haven't cried. Now I'm going to cry. I'll be you up front, I'll give you notice. I think it was General Schwarzkopf, in an interview with Barbara Walters, and Barbara Walters said, “a big general like you, are you going to cry? General Schwarzkopf said I'm afraid of a man that won't cry.”
To the dais with the induction, being in an induction class with the first punter. I've been seeing all these guys that lift their legs for a living around Canton, Ray Guy. Also to be in an induction class with three from the Historical Black Colleges. Michael Strahan, Texas Southern, Claude Humphrey, Tennessee State, and that's right, yours truly, the Southern University. Now let me begin to give thanks where thanks is due. I never had to look outside my home for role models. My two older brothers, Malcolm Williams, Achilles Williams, stand to your feet, brothers. Malcolm's debonair president of his high school class was about
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