Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Thomas and Aeneas Williams are among six members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
The class was announced on Tuesday. Ken Burrough (Texas Southern University), Jethro Pugh (Elizabeth City State University), Otis Taylor (Prairie View A&M University) and Lloyd "Judge" Wells (Kansas City Chiefs scout) join Thomas (Bishop College) and Williams (Southern University) in the '16 class. The six inductees were chosen from a list of 25 finalists. Established in 2009, the BCFHOF honors the greatest players, coaches and contributors from historically black colleges and universities.
The class of '16 will be inducted into the BCFHOF at a ceremony presented by the Atlanta Falcons on Feb. 27, 2016 in Atlanta, where the BCFHOF is located.
The inductees were selected by a 13-member selection committee of journalists, commentators, historians, former NFL GMs and executives, and previous BCFHOF inductees.
Burrough, the 10th overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft (New Orleans Saints), was a two-time All-Pro (1975, 1977) wide receiver with the Houston Oilers who led the NFL in receiving yards in 1973. He's also the last player to wear jersey No. 00.
Pugh, a defensive tackle, was selected in the 11th round (145th overall) of the 1965 draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played for 14 seasons and was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams (VI and XII). He passed away on Jan. 7.
A two-time All-Pro (1971, 1972) receiver, Taylor spent 11 seasons with the Chiefs. He was a fifth-round pick of the Chiefs in the 1965 AFL Draft and was a member of the Chiefs' Super Bowl IV-winning team.
Thomas was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He was undrafted in 1966 and went on to make five Pro Bowls during his 13 seasons with the Chiefs (Thomas and Taylor were teammates). He was twice selected first-team All-Pro. Thomas was a member of three Super Bowl-winning teams -- once as a player (IV) and twice as a coach with the Washington Redskins(XXII and XXVI). He has been an NFL coach since 1981 and currently is the Chiefs' defensive backs coach.
Williams, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014, was a four-time All-Pro defensive back during his 14 NFL seasons. He was selected in the third round of the 1991 draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He spent the final four seasons of his career with the St. Louis Rams (he was traded to St. Louis), helping the team advance to Super Bowl XXXVI, where his Rams were defeated by the New England Patriots. He's a member of NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team.
Wells was pro football's first black full-time scout, and no fewer than eight players recruited by Wells were selected All-AFL during their pro careers, according to the BCFHOF. He was an advocate for civil rights and black athletes. He also was a confidant for boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Wells died in 2005.
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