OCT 25 (morning)--On a weekend when emotions are already at a feverish intensity with the rival Oakland Raiders in town, it is fitting that some of the greatest players in Chiefs history will be in attendance to watch Kansas City’s clash with the Raiders. Sunday will mark the Chiefs annual Hall of Fame Weekend when the return of over 70 legendary Chiefs—one of the largest contingents ever—headlines a weekend commemorating the Chiefs 40th Anniversary Season in Kansas City.

Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt will kick off Sunday morning’s festivities by dedicating the Chiefs Honor Grove at the Truman Sports Complex. Planted in April of this year, 40 Redwoods at the Southeast corner of the Truman Sports Complex are proudly growing, epitomizing the deep and lasting roots the Chiefs organization has developed in Mid-America. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., Hunt along with several distinguished Chiefs alumni will dedicate three kiosks commemorating Kansas City’s victory in Super Bowl IV.

The majestic Chiefs Honor Grove was a gift from the Chiefs organization to the fans of Kansas City, symbolizing in a soft-toned manner the pride, accomplishment and longevity, which the franchise has come to represent. Fans are encouraged to attend Sunday’s Honor Grove dedication at the Truman Sports Complex.

One of the Chiefs legends in attendance for Sunday’s ceremony is 2002 Chiefs Hall of Fame inductee, T John Alt. In addition to placing a plaque bearing his name in the Chiefs Honor Grove, Alt will be enshrined as the 32nd member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame at halftime of Sunday’s Chiefs-Raiders game. A 13-year veteran of the Chiefs offensive line, Alt’s name will be affixed to the façade of Arrowhead Stadium as a testament to his toughness and his many contributions to the Chiefs team during his tenure in the Red and Gold.

Twenty other Chiefs Hall of Fame members are scheduled to be recognized with Alt at halftime of the Sunday’s game. A number of Alt’s former teammates such as RBs Christian Okoye and Barry Word, QB Steve DeBerg, CB Kevin Ross, WR Carlos Carson and LB Gary Spani are anticipated to be on hand for the weekend’s festivities, as well as many others. Alt helped Okoye lead the NFL in rushing with 1,480 yards in ’89, and also opened holes for Word, who set the Chiefs single-game rushing record with 200 yards vs. Detroit (10/14/90).

As a tribute to the ’62 AFL Champion Dallas Texans, members of that team will be honored in a special 40-year anniversary reunion. Twenty-six former players and coaches from the historic team will be introduced at halftime, including legendary Chiefs head coach Hank Stram.

An ’87 inductee into the Chiefs Hall of Fame, Stram commanded the Texans/Chiefs on-field fortunes for 15 years and has been selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee as a finalist for election into the Hall of Fame with the Class of 2003. As the Seniors Committee nominee, Stram will join 14 still-to-be-named Modern-Era candidates on the list of finalists from which the Class of 2003 will be selected. Stram became the Texans head coach during the AFL’s initial ’60 campaign and posted a regular season record of 124-76-10 while directing the franchise to three AFL titles and two Super Bowl appearances, including a 23-7 win vs. Minnesota in Super Bowl IV.

The ’62 AFL Championship Game moved the infant American Football League into the national consciousness and proved to be the first of three titles for Stram’s Texans/Chiefs. After finishing the season with an 11-3 record, Dallas squared off against the ’60 and ’61 AFL Champion Houston Oilers, in the league title game.

Paced by two RB Abner Haynes touchdowns, the Texas jumped out to 17-0 halftime lead and hung on for 20-17 double-overtime victory, which was marked by Haynes’ infamous “kick to the clock” episode. After playing to a 17-17 tie after regulation, the two teams played the first sudden death overtime in AFL annals. The Texans won the coin toss and Stram elected to kick off, maintaining his defense could hold the Oilers long enough for Dawson to get the ball in good field position. Herein came the famous “kick to the clock” episode in which Haynes inadvertently elected for his team to kick into the wind instead of having it as the consolation for not receiving the football. Despite the overtime error, the two teams played to a second overtime period where Texans K Tommy Brooker nailed a 25-yard field goal for the win.

Sunday’s Honor Grove dedication and halftime ceremony are just part of the weekend-long festivities that include a Saturday night dinner and auction, as well as a Monday golf tournament.

CHIEFS HALL OF FAME MEMBERS SCHEDULED TO ATTEND ALUMNI WEEKEND
Fred Arbanas
Bobby Bell
Ed Budde
Chris Burford
Deron Cherry
Len Dawson
Sherrill Headrick
E.J. Holub
Willie Lanier
Curtis McClinton
Christian Okoye
Ed Podolak
Johnny Robinson
Jack Rudnay
Jan Stenerud
Art Still
Hank Stram
Otis Taylor
Jerrel Wilson