Remember when VP Gerald Ford visited the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival?

"WOWEE...WHAT A WEEKEND!"

That boldfaced headline stretched across the front page of The Canton Repository on Sunday, July 28, 1974, followed by a subhead tying it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival that year.

"Over 200,000 See Festival Events."

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Newsroom lore attributes those legendary alliterative words to the late Jim Weber, then the city editor for the newspaper, although others working the days of the festival might have played a part. The Hall of Fame Festival was an "all-hands-on-deck" subject of reporting. Reporters, photographers, artists, front line editors and the copy desk staff — along with the advertising, circulation and traffic departments — all worked together to bring reports of the events to readers.

I remember the headline distinctly because it was my first time experiencing what was informally called “Football's Greatest Weekend."

Transplanted from western New York to a university in Northwest Ohio and finally to Stark County, the heightened importance and quickened pace of HOF Week was new to me. A writer at the paper for less than six months, I was only learning how the enshrinement and related events made up a weekend event that was more than just a local celebration.

As was written in the Repository 50 years ago, the 1974 HOF Festival made the Canton area "the football center of the world." And this was the result despite a labor dispute between the NFL and the Players Association that summer that "hung like a pall over planning for the festival," according to an editorial in the Repository.

"HOF Weekend a Huge Success," observed a headline over that editorial.

Festival was of short duration

The Hall of Fame Festival indeed was a weekend long five decades ago. The festival fit into three days — most of the events were on the first two days — in its early years.

Those 200,000 people attending festival activities in 1974 were spread among the Mayor's Breakfast, Fashion Show Luncheon and Enshrinees Civic Dinner on Friday and the Grand Parade, Enshrinement and Hall of Fame football game on Saturday. More informal activities were held Sunday, before the enshrinees, football notables, celebrities and honored guests began leaving town.

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"The Mayor's Breakfast was a sellout," the Repository's editorial said. "The Enshrinement Dinner was outstanding with an excellent meal and a fast-moving program. The same was true of the fashion show, the parade was bigger and better than ever, and the enshrinement ceremony itself was all anyone could wish."

Repository staffers covering the parade were chief photographer Cliff Haga; photographers Stan Myers (later to become chief photographer) and Bob Rossiter. Staff writers Frederick J. Ball, John J. Baessler Jr. and Patricia Rogers reported on the procession, and sports reporters covered the enshrinement and exhibition game.

I recall that I was in the office for the duration of the parade, taking reports from reporters in the field and gathering information by phone, including talking to Police Traffic Capt. John Blend, who in those days annually estimated the parade crowd. But, no one counted individuals and scientific methods of crowd judging were less developed back then.

Blend's estimate was forced to be a guesstimate.

"What was it last year?" he asked.

"We reported 175,000," I answered.

The crowd seemed larger. Blend had seen it both years.

"Add 10,000 to that."

So, the official parade attendance figure became 185,000.

Celebrities abounded in 1974

The VIPs in 1974, of course, were the four enshrinees — Tony Canadeo, Bill George, Lou Groza and Dick Lane.

Grabbing a spotlight as well, however, was a politician of national note — Vice President Gerald Ford, who in less than two weeks would become the nation's president following President Richard M. Nixon's resignation due to the Watergate controversy.

Ford's appearances at a Civic Center news conference, the downtown parade, and the enshrinement at the Hall of Fame caused a stir.

"Pity the poor Secret Servicemen who surrounded Vice President Gerald R. Ford throughout his visit," reported the Repository, "and who stood atop Canton's buildings with wary eye while the sun beat down."

It was Ford who coined the phrase "football center of the world" at his news conference. According to news reports, he was greeted with "enthusiastic applause" at each of his stops in Canton.

"Many craned necks to get a glimpse of him, including those passing in review," reporters along the parade route noted.

Even Hall of Famer Frank "Bruiser" Kinard, riding in the parade, looked for the vice president as he passed. "Where's the football player?" he asked, referring to Ford's experience as a member of the University of Michigan football team.

"Upon spying the veep, he waved madly," the Repository reported.

Another celebrity riding in the parade drew his own admirers.

"'Hey Potsie,' was the much-repeated cry as Anson Williams of 'Happy Days' drove by," reported the Repository. "And Redd Foxx ... (of) 'Sanford and Son,' was another big parade hit."

Who was the parade's grand marshal? Michael Haynes. Older smokers among readers will remember him from advertisements as the "Winchester Man."

Enshrinement honored football heroes

Almost 8,000 people — including Vice President Ford — attended the enshrinement, held on the steps of the Hall of Fame on Saturday following the parade.

"Enshrinement for Tony Canadeo, 'The Gray Ghost of Gonzaga,' who became a do-everything player for Green Bay; Bill George, who created the position of middle linebacker; Dick 'Night Train' Lane, who was named the most outstanding cornerback in pro football's first 50 years; and Lou 'The Toe' Groza, pro football's highest scorer, was emotional," wrote the late Robert Stewart, who was sports editor for the Repository in 1974.

Canadeo said the enshrinement outshined anything in his illustrious pro career.

"I came here today to thank football and God," said Canadeo. "This is the greatest day and thrill of my life."

Lane praised his teammates and thanked his family for helping him reach the honor of being a Hall of Famer.

"I know those words sound old and over-used, but I mean them from the bottom of my heart."

George exhibited similar appreciation and hoped to pay it forward.

"I just hope in the future," he said, "I can put back into this great game of football a mere particle of what I got out of it."

Groza, perhaps because he played for the Browns, was greeted with special warmth. He was humble in his remarks.

"It's difficult to express myself today. I hope I am worthy of the honor. It really humbles me," he said. "I just did what I enjoyed doing, and a lot of people helped."

At the enshrinement, Canton Mayor Stanley A. Cmich presented Ford with a key to the city, and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle claimed the community for the sport of football.

"I've said many times I look on Canton as a football oasis," said Rozelle, "because of the deep enthusiasm of the people here for football."

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On "X" (formerly Twitter): @gbrownREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Gerald Ford visited the Hall of Fame Enshrinement in 1974 in Canton