Larry McCarren, game analyst on the Packers Radio Network and sports director at NBC 26 in Green Bay, has been named emcee of the 45th Packers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, to be held Saturday, July 18, in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Brett Favre will become the newest member of the Hall that evening.
Inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1992, McCarren was an iron man at center for the Packers for 12 seasons (1973-84). He played in 162 consecutive games – the fourth-longest streak in team history – helping him earn the nickname "Rock." He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1982 and '83. Earlier, the Park Forest Ill., native had been a co-captain at the University of Illinois as both a junior and a senior.
In his second career, McCarren has been a broadcast journalist for more than 25 years, starting his television career at WFRV-TV in 1988. He joined the Packers' radio team in 1995 and began working at NBC 26 in 2013. He four times has been voted Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year (1994, 1996, 2002, 2007) by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. A gifted and entertaining speaker, McCarren has been a frequent master of ceremonies for the enshrinement banquet over the past 20 years.
Favre, one of the most enduring players in Packers history, played quarterback for 16 seasons for the Green and Gold (1992-2007) and finished his Packers career with 442 passing touchdowns, 61,655 passing yards, 5,377 completions and 8,758 attempts – all NFL records at the time. Possessor of legendary durability, Favre's 253-game starting streak with the Packers is one of pro sport's most respected accomplishments. His 16 seasons matched Bart Starr (1956-71) for the longest tenure in team history.
Favre played four other NFL seasons (Atlanta, 1991; N.Y. Jets, 2008; Minnesota, 2009-10) and finished his pro career with 508 passing TDs, 71,838 passing yards, 6,300 completions and 10,169 attempts, and pushed his consecutive-starts streak to 298 games – all NFL records. Off the field, Favre and his wife Deanna have been supportive of the communities in which they've lived, with Favre 4 Hope donating $7.7 million to charities in Wisconsin, Mississippi and Minnesota.
Tickets for the banquet are sold out; however, a ticketed viewing opportunity will be held inside the Lambeau Field seating bowl for fans who would like to be at Lambeau Field to watch the ceremony live on the TundraVision screens. Prior to the beginning of the program inside the Lambeau Field Atrium, Favre will appear in the bowl to address the crowd.
Tickets to the seating bowl are priced at $4 each, with net proceeds going to Favre 4 Hope, and will go on sale at 10 a.m. May 12, 2015. Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster in person, over the phone or via the Internet. A limit of eight per order will be established.
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. is a nonprofit 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 preserve the history of the Green Bay Packers and expand its archives. Historic memorabilia donated by individuals to the Hall may qualify as tax-deductible gifts.
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. Golf Classic is set for Monday, July 13, 2015, at The Bull in Sheboygan Falls, Wis. To participate in the event, contact Holly Borga (920-965-6986; hollyb@packershalloffame.com) for more information.
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 relocated to the Lambeau Field Atrium. It is currently closed for the ongoing Atrium renovation project and will reopen later this year. Fans may still experience Packers history though stadium tours and other youth programs. Additionally, groups interested in booking tours and those seeking additional information are asked to call 920-569-7512 or visit the Hall online at www.packers.com/hof.
