College Football Hall Of Fame Honors Members Who Served

ATLANTA, GA — The College Football Hall of Fame has a richer military heritage than one might think. In fact, the Hall — now located in downtown Atlanta — was founded in 1951 by U.S. Gen Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and renowned journalist Grandland Rice.

As the Independence Day approaches, the Hall is honoring those who served to help keep the nation free.

Admission to the Hall of Fame, at 250 Marietta St., is free every day to active duty and retired military members. Their family members also receive a special admission rate.

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"The Hall of Fame is proud of our long-standing connection to the Military and our members who served," said Dennis Adamovich, CEO of the Hall. "Their accomplishments off the field far outweigh what took place on the field and they have a special place in our building and in our hearts."

As such, the Hall of Fame this year is honoring three inductees who served their nation on the battlefield as well as becoming standouts on the gridiron.

Bob Chappuis

In 1942, halfback Bob Chappuis had just completed his sophomore season at the University of Michigan when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. During his service in World War II, Chappuis rose to the rank of lieutenant as a radio operator and gunner.

On his 21st mission, in February 1945, he was sent to northern Italy, where his plane was severely damaged by gunfire. Chappuis and his crew were forced to abandon the plane and parachute into the Italian countryside.

Before they could be captured by German patrols, the team was rescued by an Italian partisan. The Americans were kept hidden from the Germans in various homes and villages, some only yards from German headquarters, as they made their way to the Swiss border during the final three months of the war.

Following the war, Chappuis kept in contact with the Italians that kept him hidden, returning to visit Italy and hosting his protectors in the United States.

Jim Martin

Upon graduating from Cleveland East Technical High School, Jim Martin joined the United States Marines to fight in World War II. As an experienced swimmer, he trained as an underwater demolitions expert, better known as a frogman.

Martin earned a Bronze Star on assignment in July 1944 prior to the invasion of the island of Tinian. Entering the water under the cover of darkness, Martin first swam 500 yards and then detonated a series of defense weapons that the Japanese had erected to halt the invasion of Allied forces.

Martin’s World War II exploits in the Pacific earned him the nickname "Jungle Jim." During the war, Martin met Coach Frank Leahy who recruited him to play at Notre Dame. Martin went on to play tackle, tight end and place kicker. In his four years with the Irish they went 36-0-2 and won three National Championships.

Chuck Bednarik

Prior to his time at the University of Pennsylvania, center Chuck Bednarik joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot, flying over Europe in World War II. After graduating high school in Bethlehem, Penn., "Concrete Charlie" left for training before he could pick up his high school diploma.

Bednarik flew 30 missions in the "Mighty" 8th Air Force and was awarded the Air Medal, four Oak Leaf Clusters, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and four Battle Stars. Upon returning home, he re-enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania where he was a two-time consensus All-America, Maxwell Award winner and finished third in the 1948 Heisman voting.

The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame is a 94,256-square-foot attraction that sits near the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. It features interactive experiences, college football artifacts and multimedia displays.

It is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Photos courtesy College Football Hall of Fame