The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. on Saturday received a "championship" donation from Bart and Cherry Starr, items representing four of the five NFL titles the Packers won under the legendary quarterback, as well as a necklace from Cherry with charms from all five championships.
Included in the donation are Bart's championship rings from NFL titles won during the 1961, '65 and '66 seasons (Super Bowl I), plus a watch the players received after the '62 title.
The necklace, which started out as a bracelet but was transformed after continued titles, includes charms that Bart gave to Cherry after each of the team's five NFL championships (1961-62, '65-67), plus the Packers' 1960 NFL Western Conference title. Two separate charms represent Green Bay's victories in Super Bowls I and II. It also has charms representing Bart's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and his award from Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities while a collegiate player at Alabama.
"It was an honor to make this donation to the Hall of Fame," said Bart. "We greatly respect the Hall and the Packers, and are very pleased to assist in any way we can."
Cherry echoed the sentiment and said she and Bart felt the timing was right.
"It's a time in our lives that we thought it would be wonderful to share them with Packers fans," she explained. "I hadn't worn the necklace much the last couple of years, and Bart's rings were on display at our home, which has been a pleasure to share with our visitors, but just in our home. The more we thought about it, we felt it was the right opportunity to donate them to the Hall of Fame so all the fans could enjoy them."
"We are tremendously honored to receive this donation from Bart and Cherry," said Tom Murphy, the Hall of Fame's archivist and member of its board of directors. "It's the most significant donation we've received from a former player. More importantly, they are incredible gifts to Packers fans, to be on display for all to see in the Hall of Fame."
The items will be on display in the Hall of Fame in a temporary case, and eventually will be included in appropriate areas of the permanent displays.
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The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Inc., is a non-profit corporation independent of the Green Bay Packers that guides the Hall as a historic national sports venue and educational resource to the Green Bay community and the state of Wisconsin. The Hall raises funds through its annual induction banquet, Golf Classic and other events to develop new exhibits and expand its archives. Historic memorabilia donated by individuals to the Hall may qualify as tax-deductible gifts.
Originally established in 1967 as a temporary display in the concourse of the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena, the Hall moved into its own facility in 1976 near Lambeau Field. In 2003, it was relocated to a spectacular new, 25,000-square foot facility in the Lambeau Field Atrium. The Hall of Fame is open on non-game days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours may vary on game days and holidays. For more information, contact the Hall of Fame at 920/569-7512, or visit the Hall online at www.packershalloffame.org.
