Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame

With bittersweet emotions, fighting back tears, applauding and yelling at the top of my voice, I could only imagine what Lucille Hester felt as the speaker finally announced the enshrinement of her little brother, Robert “Bullet Bob” Hayes into the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, August 8, 2009. Seated a few feet from me, I saw her staring intensively at the stadium monitor, engulfing every single accolade given by the announcer and the standing ovation rendered by a packed stadium crowd.

When a clip of Bob winning the 100 meters at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan flashed on the monitor, the crowd roared, but an even louder cheer occurred when they showed him catching a 45 yards pass from then quarterback Roger Stauback . With ease “Bullet Bob “galloped to the end zone for a Dallas Cowboys touchdown, eluding and out running his nearest tacklers. Bob revolutionized the National Football Leagues ‘offense and defense passing game with his speed and catching accuracy.

“Bullet Bob” Hayes was the first of six inductees inducted into the Football Hall of Fame class of 2009. The remaining five included, Randall McDaniel, Minnesota Vikings, Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills, Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs, Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Ralph Wilson Jr., one of the original founders of the American Football League. Mr. Wilson Jr., the oldest living inductee is 90 years old.

It was Robert Hayes Jr. that accepted the bust of his father which is now on display in the Football Hall of Fame Museum among his class of 2009 and alongside the other great Hall of Famers that have gone before him, but it was his friend Roger “The Dodger” Stauback who gave the heart wrenching acceptance speech . Holding back tears, he told of his love for Bob, and his tremendous contributions to both track and field and football. He expressed many fond memories of how funny Bob was and how he loved everyone. He remembered his love for family and his Cowboys. He gently mentioned Bob’s problems and the illness that took him suddenly away from us. As he concluded his tribute to this great man, Stauback spoke of Bob’s winning smile no matter how dire the circumstances.

I could not help but notice, a single tear streaming down Lucille’s face as that huge signature smile of hers covered her face. It was over now and all of her hard work had finally paid off. She had honored her brother’s request, because before Bob’s passing on September 18, 2002, he asked his sister to work to get him into the Football Hall of Fame. He had tried tirelessly for years and failed. That was the one honor which he desired, and so year after year, Lucille tirelessly campaigned for her little brother. She fought the good fight and won. Why then the bitter-sweetness?
Lacey O’Neal, Bob Hayes’ teammate on several international track and field teams and a 1964 and 1972 Olympian hurdler semi-finalist is a free-lance writer. She resides in Washington, DC.