Chuck Bednarik to be Inducted into County Hall of Fame

This month, Lehigh County celebrates its bicentennial by inducting 24 people with ties to the Lehigh Valley into the brand new Lehigh County Hall of Fame. 

Among the inductees is Southern Lehigh resident Chuck Bednarik. Bednarik, an NFL Hall of Famer, played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949 to 1962. According to Wikipedia, Bednarik was a first round, first draft pick for the Eagles. He was known as a "devastating tackler," benching the New York Giants' Frank Gifford for over 18 months following a ferocious hit during the 1960 season. Bednarik was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1967.

After football, Bednarik owned a construction business. A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Coopersburg and the proud father of five daughters, the 86-year-old Bednarik is an early riser who attends Mass every day. Last year, he showed the students that he keeps a rosary in his pocket, telling them he wouldn’t go without it.

When asked about some of the things he likes to do, he said he enjoys going outside—his home is in a country setting—to say prayers and look at the deer.